Bhaskar Vyankatraman Neerugatti v. State Of Maharashtra And ORS
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 4963 OF 2024 Bhaskar V. Neerugatti ...Applicant V/s.
State of Maharashtra & Ors.
...Respondents.
..............
Ms Bhagyashri Ranade for the Applicant.
Ms P.S. Rane, APP for the Respondent/State.
Ms Reena Prajapati, Appointed Advocate for Respondent Nos.2 to 6.
..............
CORAM
:
N.R. BORKAR, J.
DATE :
25.02.2025.
P.C. :
1.
This is an application for regular bail.
2.
The applicant came to be arrested in Crime No.704 of 2024 registered at Yavat Police Station, Pune rural for the offences punishable under Sections 354-A of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Sections 3(1)(w)(i), 3(2)(Va) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
3.
The applicant was working as a accountant in a girls' hostel namely Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission Sanstha. It is alleged that on 17.4.2024, the applicant came to the place where the victims were sitting together after playing basketball and touched them inappropriately.
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4.
I have heard the learned counsel for the applicant, the learned APP for the respondent - State and the learned appointed advocate for the respondent Nos. 2 to 6/victims. 5.
Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the wife of the applicant was working as a Superintendent of the said hostel. It is submitted that she had lodged the report against one of the employee working in the said Sanstha for committing penetrative sexual assault on one of the girls staying in the hostel against the wishes of management. It is submitted that the present applicant therefore came to be involved in false case. It is submitted that the applicant may therefore, be released on bail. 6.
On the other hand, learned APP for the respondent/State and the learned appointed advocate for the respondents/victim submit that the applicant is involved in serious crime. It is submitted that considering the nature of crime, the applicant may not be released on bail.
7.
The applicant is in jail for about 7 months. The learned counsel for the applicant has placed on record the copy of FIR lodged by the wife of the applicant. Considering the overall facts and circumstances, 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.
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B] The applicant be released on bail in C.R. No. 704 of 2024 registered at Yavat Police Station, Pune rural for the offences punishable under Sections 354-A of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Sections 3(1) (w)(i), 3(2)(Va) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 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