Amod Vasantrao Mhetar And ANR v. The State Of Maharashtra And ANR

rdg 35-wp-3099-2024.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO.3099 OF 2024 Amod Vasantrao Mhetar & Anr.

.....Petitioners Vs.

The State Of Maharashtra & Anr.

.....Respondents Mr. Niteen Pradhan, Senior Advocate i/b. Mr. Viram Tarepatil, for the Petitioners.

Mr. Ashish I. Satpute, APP, for Respondent No.1-State. CORAM : A. S. GADKARI AND DR. NEELA GOKHALE, JJ.

DATE : 6th SEPTEMBER, 2024.

P.C.:- 1) Issue notice to Respondent No.2 returnable on 18th October 2024.

2) Learned Advocate for the Petitioners is directed to supply spare copies of the Petition in the Registry within a period of two weeks from today, failing which the Petition shall stand dismissed without further reference to this Court.

3) Mr. Pradhan, learned senior Advocate appearing for the Petitioners raises a contention that, the Bitcoin which is alleged to be a valuable commodity under Section 2(c) of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act, 1999 ('MPID Act'), is not legally acceptable tender in India and therefore, Sections 3 and 4 of the MPID Act cannot be applied to the present crime. 1/2

rdg 35-wp-3099-2024.doc 4) Learned APP seeks time to file reply. At his request, stand over to 18th October 2024.

5) Till the returnable date, further proceedings in Sessions Case No.70 of 2013 pending on the file of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ichalkaranji qua the Petitioners are stayed.

(DR. NEELA GOKHALE, J.) (A. S. GADKARI, J.) 2/2 Signed by: Raju D. Gaikwad Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 10/09/2024 18:45:34