Jagdish Narhar Sawkar v. The State Of Maharashtra

Vidya Amin

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION No. 215 OF 2017 Jagdish Narhar Sawkar ... Applicant Vs.

The State of Maharashtra ... Respondent Mr. Anil D. Joshi, Advocate for the Applicant Mr. Sooraj S. Hulke, APP, for Respondent - State. Mr. Sanjay D. Sanap, P.S.I., Aadgaon Police Station, Nashik present. CORAM: MRS.MRIDULA BHATKAR, J.

DATE: 6th February, 2017.

P.C.:

This Application is moved by the applicant/accused under section 438 of Cr. P.C. The applicant/accused is prosecuted for the offences punishable under sections 489(A), (B), (D) and (E), 120B of the Indian Penal Code in C.R. No. I-215 of 2016 registered with Aadgaon Police Station, Nashik. The offence is registered at the instance of one Praveen Dattaram Mali, P.S.I. Adgaon Police Station.

2.

It is the case of the prosecution that on 22nd December, 2016 the police received information in respect of transportation of genuine as well as fake old and new currency notes in the vehicles. The police made the arrangements of panchas and laid trap near Jatra Hotel, Mumbai Agra Road, Aadgaon Zichar. As per the information, three vehicles, i.e., one Skoda, 1 Ford Figo car and Maruti Ciaz were stopped and after search of 1 / 3

those cars, police found Rs.1,35,00,000/- fake old currency notes. The police seized the cars along with G.C. notes. Thereafter they registered the offence against the drivers and the persons in the vehicles. During the investigation, they recovered printers, scanner, xerox machine, paper cutting machines, ink bottles, papers etc. In the course of investigation, they found that applicant/accused was involved in purchasing printer and paper cutting machine with ink, which was used for preparing fake currency notes. Hence, this Anticipatory Bail Application. 3.

The learned counsel for the applicant/accused has submitted that the applicant/accused is innocent. He has not committed any offence. The learned counsel submitted that the name of the applicant/accused is not mentioned in the FIR. He was not found at the spot. He is neither the owner of the vehicle. He further submitted that the police have recorded the statement of co-accused on 25th January, 2017, however, the applicant/accused has filed Anticipatory Bail Application before the learned Sessions Judge on 18th January, 2017 and this fact is to be taken into account. The learned counsel further submitted that the applicant/accused is falsely implicated in this case and there is no evidence against the applicant/accused that he was involved in making fake currency notes. 4.

Learned APP has submitted that the police have clues that the 2 / 3

applicant/accused has purchased the printer, paper cutting machine and ink bottle and he is actually involved in making fake old G.C. notes of Rs.500/- and Rs.1000/-. Learned APP submitted that the police requires the custody of applicant/accused to get further clues as to where and how the currency notes were printed.

5.

The offence is very serious against the national economy. In the case of counterfeiting, the custody of applicant/accused is necessary. On the basis of custodial interrogation only, it is possible for the police to investigate further. There is evidence against the applicant/accused produced before the Court to justify his custody. Hence, Anticipatory Bail Application is rejected.

(MRIDULA BHATKAR, J.) 3 / 3