In a significant ruling, a Pune sessions court granted anticipatory bail to Aasma Naim Sayyed in a cheating case involving ₹15 lakh (approximately $18,000 USD). The court criticized the Samarth police for their handling of the case, labeling the registration of the first information report (FIR) as a “sheer abuse of the process of court.” The case originated from a complaint by Nasira Shahid Shaikh, who alleged that Sayyed had induced her to invest in a construction business with promises of high returns. However, Sayyed only repaid a fraction of the investment, leading to allegations of financial misconduct. The court highlighted that the dispute was fundamentally civil and should be resolved through civil litigation rather than criminal proceedings. Notably, the police had previously indicated that the matter was settled amicably, raising questions about the necessity of criminal charges. The court's decision underscores the importance of distinguishing between civil disputes and criminal allegations, reinforcing that the police should not be used to settle private financial matters.