Somnath Digambar Khankal v. State Of Maharashtra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 653 OF 2025 Somnath Digambar Khankal .... Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra .... Respondents ----- Mr. Salman K. Pathan, Advocate for the Applicant. Ms. P.S. Rane, A.P.P., for the Respondent - State. ----- CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.
DATE : 10th NOVEMBER, 2025.
by SHANTANU SHANKARSA DHUDUM Date:
2025.11.12 14:33:10 +0530 SHANTANU SHANKARSA DHUDUM P.C. :
1.
By this application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in connection with C.R. No.28 of 2023 registered at Pandharpur Taluka Police Station, District: Solapur, for the offences punishable under Sections 307, 323, 506, 143, 147, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, "IPC"), and Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2), 3(4) of the Maharashtra Control Organised Crime Act, 1999 (for short, "MCOC Act"), and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951. 2.
It is prosecution's case that on 15th January 2023 at around 2:45 p.m. the Applicant and co-accused assaulted the deceased with knife and stone with intention to kill him on the ground of financial Shantanu S. Dhudum 1/3
dispute.
3.
It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that the Applicant is behind bar for more than three years and co-accused Ravindra Gurav and Nikhil Rajurkar against whom similar allegations are levelled have been released on bail, hence the Applicant is entitled for bail on principle of parity, and requested to allow the application. 4.
It is contention of learned APP that the Applicant has seven antecedent, he is a habitual offender, if he is released on bail, he may threaten the prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the application.
5.
I have heard both learned counsel, perused the F.I.R. and documents produced on record.
6.
The co-accused having similar allegations have been released on bal. The Applicant is behind bar for more than three years. There is no progress in the trial. Considering these facts, the Applicant is entitled for bail on principle of parity, and I pass following order:
ORDER
i. Application is allowed.
ii. The Applicant be released on bail in connection with Shantanu S. Dhudum 2/3
C.R. No.28 of 2023 registered at Pandharpur Taluka Police Station, District: Solapur, on furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount.
iii. The Applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when required.
iv. The Applicant shall remain present before the trial Court on each date unless exempted by the Trial Court.
v. The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or attempt to influence or contact the complainant, witness or any person concerned with the case. 7.
The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms and is accordingly disposed off.
8.
It is made clear that the above observations are made only for the purpose of granting bail and the Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits in accordance with law and uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.
9.
All concerned to act on the authenticated copy of this order. ( SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.) Shantanu S. Dhudum 3/3