Raghini Suresh Patil v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR.
Digitally signed by DINESH SADANAND SHERLA Date:
2025.06.18 11:01:31 +0530 DINESH SADANAND SHERLA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3429 OF 2024 Raghini S. Patil ...Applicant V/s.
State of Maharashtra and Anr.
...Respondents.
..............
Ms Aarti R. Dharamsey for the Applicant.
Mr. H.S. Venegavkar, GP and Ms P.S. Rane, APP for the Respondent/State.
Mr. Ayush Pasbola, Appointed Advocate for Respondent No.2. ..............
CORAM
:
N.R. BORKAR, J.
DATE :
13.06.2025.
P.C. :
1.
This is an application for regular bail.
2.
The applicant came to be arrested in Crime No.29 of 2024 registered at Ravet Police Station, Dist Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 354, 354-D, 376(2)(d)(n), 376(3) of the Indian Penal Code, Section 4, 5(f), 5(l), 6, 8, 12, 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. 3.
The applicant is the accused No.2 in the aforesaid crime. It is the case of the prosecution that accused No.1 was the Director of an educational institution namely Creative Academy at Akurdi, Pune. Accused No.1 resided in room No.6 of the Girl's Hostel of the said academy. The allegations against the accused No.1 are of inappropriately touching the victim students and committing forcible sexual intercourse with them on the pretext of developing 1/3
their personality and obtaining a lucrative career abroad. The applicant was ex-student of said academy. Upon the directions of accused No.1, the applicant managed the girl's hostel as well as undertook other administrative work. According to the prosecution, the applicant assisted the accused No.1 in manipulating the victim girls to establish physical relations with him, by telling them how it benefited by doing the same. 4.
I have heard the learned counsel for the applicant and the learned APP for the respondent - State.
5.
Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the main allegations are against accused No.1. It is submitted that the applicant herself was a student in the said academy and at the relevant time she was pursuing further studies. It is further submitted that the applicant is meritorious student and has received many accolades in various fields. It is submitted that the applicant is in jail for more than one year and the trial has not commenced.
6.
On the other hand, learned APP for the respondent/State submits that the applicant in collusion with accused No.1 manipulated minor victims to establish a relation with accused No.1 and abetted the alleged crime. It is further submitted that the applicant has arranged a welcome party for accused No.1 and the victims were inappropriately touched by accused No.1 in presence of the applicant. It is further submitted that the applicant 2/3
often praised accused No.1 and persuaded the victim to open up to him, while being completely aware that accused No.1 is subjecting the victims to sexual abuse. It is further submitted that there is a recovery of incriminating materials at the instance of the applicant.
7.
The main allegations are against the accused No.1. The applicant is in jail for more than 1 year and the trial has not commenced. In that view of the matter, I am inclined to release the applicant on bail. In the result, the following order is passed.
O R D E R
A] The Application is allowed.
B] The applicant be released on bail in Crime No.29 of 2024 registered at Ravet Police Station, Dist Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 354, 354-D, 376(2)(d) (n) & 376(3) of the Indian Penal Code, Section 4, 5(f), 5(l), 6, 8, 12, 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, on furnishing P.R Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand) with one or two sureties in the like amount.
[N.R.BORKAR, J.] 3/3