Santosh Maruti Pankar v. The State Of Maharashtra
Harish
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3377 OF 2025 Santosh Maruti Pankar ...Applicant
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra
...Respondent
------- Mr. Anand S. Patil, Advocate for the Applicant. Mr. S. S. Chaudhari, APP for the Respondent-State. HARISH VITHAL CHAUDHARI Digitally signed by HARISH VITHAL CHAUDHARI Date:
2025.11.27 19:42:33 +0530 -------
CORAM
:
SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.
DATE :
25th NOVEMBER, 2025.
P.C.
1.
By this application, applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.575 of 2025 registered with Shahupuri Police Station, District Kolhapur for the offences punishable under Sections 308(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 r/w Section 7(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
2.
It is prosecution's case that the applicant and co-accused had taken the amount of Rs.85,000/- from the first informant and other victims for transferring them at their convenience places. 3.
It is contention of learned counsel for applicant that the coaccused Dhanashri Jagtap, whose role on higher footing than the
applicant, has 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 A.P.P. that the amount of Rs. 6 crores 35 lakhs has been found in the bank account of the applicant and his wife. If the applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten the prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the application. 5.
I have heard both learned counsels, perused the FIR and documents produced on record.
6.
The allegations against the applicant are that the co-accused Dhanashri Jagtap had taken the amount from the first informant and other victims for their transfer at convenient place and given the said amount to the applicant. The co-accused Dhanashri Jagtap has been released on bail. Considering these facts, the applicant is entitled for bail on principle of party and I pass the following order :
ORDER
I.
Application is allowed;
II.
The applicant be enlarged on bail in Crime No.575 of 2025 registered with Shahupuri Police Station, District Kolhapur, on executing P.R.Bond in the sum of Rs.20,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount.
III.
The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or attempt to influence or contact the first informant, victim, witnesses 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.)