Seema Malhari Borkar @ Seema Balasaheb Khamgal v. State Of Maharashtra

Gokhale

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 821 OF 2024 Seema Malhari Borkar @ Seema Balasaheb Khamgal ..Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra ..Respondent _____ Mr. Arun D. Mishra i/b. Aprita Mishra for Applicant. Ms. Mahalakshmi Ganapathy, APP for State/Respondent. _____ CORAM :- SARANG V. KOTWAL, J.

DATE :- 28 MARCH 2024 P.C. :- 1.

The Applicant is seeking anticipatory bail in connection with C.R.No.119 of 2024 registered at Indapur Police Station, Pune Rural, on 29.01.2024, under Sections 420, 465, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code.

2.

Heard Mr. Arun Mishra, learned counsel for the applicant and Ms. Mahalakshmi Ganapathy, learned APP for the State.

3.

The F.I.R. is lodged by one Sandip Kale who was a Digitally signed by VINOD BHASKAR GOKHALE Date:

2024.03.30 14:46:47 +0530 VINOD BHASKAR GOKHALE

Project Officer working with the Panchayat Samiti, Indapur. The gist of the F.I.R. is that the applicant was appointed as an Anganwadi Helper from 19.04.1999 at Ramwadi Vadapuri, Taluka Indapur, District Pune. It is mentioned in the F.I.R. that, at the time of seeking promotion, the applicant had submitted certain documents including a mark sheet of 10th standard. That document, according to the F.I.R., is a forged document. 4.

Learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is being targeted by her superior, for which, she had approached the police station on number of occasions, but no steps were taken on her complaints. The applicant has not produced any such forged mark sheet before any of the authorities. 5.

Learned APP submitted that, a copy of the forged mark sheet which was submitted for the purposes of her promotion bears her signatures as having verified that particular document. The signature in the form of attestation shows that the document was attested by her.

6.

Since there is serious dispute about such particular

signature, the answer lies in the fact that whether she has actually signed those forged documents and attested them. Therefore, it is necessary to give her a fair chance to prove her innocence. 7.

Learned APP submitted that the investigating agency shall take steps to compare that particular signature with the applicant's signature.

8.

Considering these submissions, today the applicant can be protected by way of ad-interim relief with direction to attend the concerned police station and to co-operate with the investigation.

9.

Hence, the following order.

O R D E R

i) In the event of her arrest in connection with C.R.No.119 of 2024 registered at Indapur Police Station, till the next date, the Applicant is directed to be released on bail on her executing P. R. bond in the sum of Rs.30,000/- (Rupees Thirty Thousand Only) with one or two sureties in the like amount.

ii) This order shall operate till 30/04/2024. iii) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station on 10/04/2024 and 12/04/2024 between 1.00p.m. to 5.00p.m. and thereafter as and when called and shall cooperate with the investigation. iv) Stand over to 30/04/2024.

(SARANG V. KOTWAL, J.)