Rajendra Manohar Sonwalkar v. The State Of Maharashtra

1 15.647.18 aba.doc ISM

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 647 OF 2018 Rajendra Manohar Sonwalkar .....Applicant V/s.

The State of Maharashtra .....Respondent Mr. Pranav H. Bhoite advocate for the applicant Mr. A. A. Palkar APP for the State CORAM : NITIN W. SAMBRE, J.

DATE :

JANUARY 16, 2019.

P.C.

In Crime No. 689/2017 registered with Daund Police Station, Pune for offence punishable under Sections 384, 354, 500 & 506 of the Indian Penal Code, applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail. According to the applicant, looking to the nature of allegation, custodial interrogation of the applicant is not warranted. He submits that the applicant, a journalist by profession has deep roots in the society and is very much available for the investigation.

2 15.647.18 aba.doc If the contentions are appreciated in the backdrop of contents in the F.I.R. and the statement of the witnesses, what could be appreciated is, applicant appears to have misused his position as a journalist and has tried to extort the amount from the complainant by blackmailing. There are allegations for an offence under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code also. That being so, no case for prearrest bail is made out. Application fails, stands rejected. [NITIN W. SAMBRE, J.]