Rajesh Rameshwar Pal v. State Of Maharashtra

Prasad Rajput IN IN THE THE HIGH HIGH COURT COURT OF OF JUDICATURE JUDICATURE AT AT BOMBAY BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.4512 OF 2024 Rajesh Rameshwar Pal .. Applicant

Versus

State Of Maharashtra .. Respondent ....................

 Mr. Vaibhav Bagade a/w Mr. Aman Kothari , Advocates for Applicant.

 Ms. Mahalakshmi Ganapathy, APP for State.

 API - Dhotre, DCB, CID, AE Cell, Mumbai present. ...................

CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J.

DATE : FEBRUARY 28, 2025 P. C.

:

1.

Heard Mr. Bagade, learned Advocate for Applicant and Ms. Ganapathy, learned APP for State.

2.

Applicant - accused has filed the present Application for regular bail in connection with Crime No. 23 of 2018 registered with MRA Marg Police Station (Anti Extortion Cell, DCB, Crime No.5 of 2018). Applicant is arrayed as Accused No.5.

3.

As compared to the co-accused arrayed as Accused Nos.1 and 3 in Bail Application, which is appended at Page No.598 of the Application the Role of the present Applicant prima facie seen by the Court appears to be far negligible and less. However, without delineating into the merits of the matter and in view of the fact that

charge having been framed but trial has still not commenced and the probability of the prosecution examining 87 witnesses as can be seen from the chargesheet, Applicant's case for grant bail is considered. 4.

Needless to state that complicity of the Applicant with respect to the charge of prosecution as delineated in paragraph No.4 of the previous order dated 26th February, 2025 shall be determined in trial. The long incarceration of the Applicant since 30.01.2020 for a period of 5 years and 29 days pending trial and right of Applicant to speedy justice and his personal liberty being affected, Applicant has made out a case for grant of bail.

5.

In view of the above, Bail Application is allowed subject to the following terms and conditions:- (i) Applicant is directed to be released on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount;

(ii) Applicant shall report to the Investigating Officer of concerned Police Station once every month on the third Saturday between 10:00 am to 12:00 pm for the first three months and thereafter as and when called;

(iii) Applicant shall co-operate with the conduct of trial and attend the Trial Court on all dates unless specifically exempted

and will not take any unnecessary adjournments, if he does so, it will entitle the prosecution to apply for cancellation of this order;

(iv) Applicant shall not leave the State of Maharashtra without prior permission of the Trial Court;

(v) Applicant shall not influence with any of the witnesses or tamper with the evidence in the trial in any manner; (vi) Applicant shall keep the Investigating Officer informed of his current address and mobile contact number and / or change of residence or mobile details, if any, from time to time; (vii) Any infraction of the above conditions shall entail cancellation of this order.

6.

It is clarified that the observations in this order are limited for the purpose of granting Bail only and I have not made any observations on merits of the case and the trial shall be adjudicated on its own merits on the basis of evidence and in accordance with law. 7.

Bail Application is allowed and disposed.

P.R. Rajput [ MILIND N. JADHAV, J. ] by AJAY TRAMBAK UGALMUGALE Date:

2025.02.28 19:29:59 +0530 AJAY TRAMBAK UGALMUGALE