Nirmal Cooperative Society Throught General Manager Sau. Nanda Dinesh Bante v. The State Of Mah. Thr. Its Secretary Dept. Of Home Mantralaya, Mumbai And Another.

909.WP.16.2024 & Ors..odt 1/3

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.

CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 16 OF 2024 Nirmal Cooperative Society through General Manager Sau. Nanda Dinesh Bante Vs.

The State of Maharashtra, through its Secretary, Department of Home & Ors. WITH CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 1068 OF 2019 Sau. Pranali W/o. Ravindra Puttewar & Anr Vs.

Union of India & Ors.

WITH CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 811 OF 2025 Ravindra Balaji Puttewar Vs.

The Central Registrar of Co-operative Societies & Ors. __________________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoramda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders.

and Registrar's Orders.

WRIT PETITION NO. 16/2024 Mr. Bhushan Dafle, Advocate with Mr. A.P. Chaware, Advocate for the Petitioner.

Mr. S.S. Doifode, APP for Respondent Nos.1 & 2/State. Mr. S.A. Chaudhary, Advocate for Respondent No.3. Mr. Z.Z. Haq, Advocate for Respondent No.4.

WRIT PETITION NO. 1068/2019 Mr. Z.Z. Haq, Advocate for the Petitioners.

Mr. S.A. Chaudhary, Advocate for Respondent Nos.1 to 3. Mr. S.S. Doifode, APP for Respondent Nos.4 to 7, 9 & 10/State. Mr. K.N. Shukul, Advocate with Mr. Raghv N. Tiwari, Advocate for Respondent No.8.

Mr. Bhushan Dafle, Advocate with Mr. A.P. Chaware, Advocate for Respondent No.11.

WRIT PETITION NO. 811/2025 Mr. Z.Z. Haq, Advocate for the Petitioner.

Mr. S.A. Chaudhary, Advocate for Respondent No.1. Mr. S.S. Doifode, APP for Respondent Nos.2 & 5/State. Mr. Bhushan Dafle, Advocate with Mr. A.P. Chaware, Advocate for Respondent No.3.

Mr. P.K. Sathianathan, Advocate for Respondent No.4. CORAM : ANIL L. PANSARE AND RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ. DATE : 17 th DECEMBER, 2025.

909.WP.16.2024 & Ors..odt 2/3 In response to the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the Director General of Police, Maharashtra, has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on 8th December, 2025, which comprises of following Officers: 1.

Shri Rajesh Pradhan, IPS, Special Inspector General of Police.

2.

Shri Mohit Garg, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mumbai.

3.

Shri Umesh Mane Patil, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar, Police Commissionerate.

2.

The SIT has collected the documents pertaining to the FIRs under question, including the charge sheets filed in some of the cases. The investigation is in progress. The affidavit to that effect is tendered across bar. Taken on record. 3.

We may note here that, as per the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the members of the SIT should be specialised in investigating economic offences. 4.

When enquired, learned APP submits that the members of the SIT have investigated the cases involving economic offences. In our view, to investigate economic offence is one thing and to have specialisation in investigating economic offences is another. We, accordingly, request learned APP to take categorical instructions whether the members of the SIT are specialised in investigating economic offences.

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We further observe that the senior-most member of the SIT is otherwise junior to the Commissioners of Police, Nagpur, who had expressed opinion on different occasions. We are of the view that this issue needs to be looked into by the Director General of Police, Maharashtra, to ensure that the members of the SIT will be able to conduct investigation independently and without undue influence. Another concern is that the officer being junior in rank, the possibility that he may unnecessarily create records to improve his chances of superseding the Commissioners of Police involved cannot be ruled out. We accordingly request the Director General of Police to look into this matter.

6.

At this stage, counsel for the informant submits that pursuant to order passed by this Court, CBI has registered FIR on 29th November, 2025, being RC0282025A0008. 7.

The SIT shall take over investigation of the said crime.

8.

List on 7th January, 2026.

9.

All concerned shall act on authenticated/uploaded copy of this order.

(RAJ. D. WAKODE, J.) (ANIL L. PANSARE, J.) Vijaykumar Signed by: Mr. Vijay Kumar Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 17/12/2025 17:29:32