Pravin Chintaman Mahajan v. State Of Maharashtra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2983 OF 2024 Pravin Chintaman Mahajan ...Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra & Anr.
...Respondents
Mr. Irvin Dsouza a/w. Mr. Aniket Kanawade, Mr. Bhushan Deshmukh, Mr. Vaibhav Thorave and Mr. Aryan Deshmukh, for the Applicant.
Mr. S. M. Mangaonkar, APP, for the Respondent No.1-State. Mr. Sushan Mhatre, for the Respondent No.2.
CORAM:
MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.
DATED :
13th JANUARY 2026 PC:- 1.
A learned Single Judge by order dated 29th October 2024 has granted interim protection to the Applicant. The said order dated 29th October 2024 reads as under:
"1.
Heard learned Counsel for the Applicant/Accused and learned APP for the Respondent-State.
2. This is an Application for pre-arrest bail in connection with the Crime No. 528/2024 registered with Nashik Road Police Station for the commission of the offence punishable u/s. 79, 74, 132, 352, 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
3. Perused the FIR dated 07/10/2024 filed by the Complainant - Anjali Arvinda Sarode. According to the FIR itself, the incident has taken place 4 days prior to the date of the FIR i.e. 03/10/2024 in which it is alleged that the Applicant had filed certain complaints against the Education Institutions, which were not entertained by the Officers of the Deputy Director of Education, Nashik Division, Nashik.
4. Learned Counsel for the Applicant has invited this Court's attention to the complaint filed by one Dr. Kiran Kuwar which has resulted in the FIR No.409/2024, prior in point of time, which makes a reference to the Applicant's name and the complaint made by him against certain Education Institutes.
5. It appears that the Applicant is having grievance against certain Education Institutes, which he was pressing with the concerned Education Authority, which has been either rejected or disposed off that has led to alleged incident in the subject matter FIR.
6. Perused the order dated 18/10/2024 passed by the Additional District Judge, Nashik by which the Applicant's Anticipatory Bail Applicant was rejected. The order makes reference to two crimes pending against the present Applicant. Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that one of these two crimes is connected with the Education Department, in which the Applicant is acquitted and other is about unconnected incident with his neighbor. Learned APP seeks time to get details of the two crimes.
7. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances and that the Applicant has immediately approached this Court by the present Applicant, the following ad-interim order is passed :
(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant - Pravin Chintaman Mahajan, in connection with the Crime No.528/2024 registered with Nashik Road Police
Station, he be released on bail on execution of P.R. Bond Rs.50,000/- along with one or more surety in the like amount.
(b) The Applicant is directed not to tamper with the prosecution evidence and not to influence the witnesses involved.
(c) The Applicant is directed to co-operate with the investigation and also directed to report to the concerned police station, as and when called.
8. Place the above matter before the regular Court on 25/11/2024 for further hearing.
9. All concerned to act on duly authenticated or 2.
It is the submission of Mr. Dsouza, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant that the Applicant is Social Worker and as he was raising issues regarding corruption in the Education Department, FIR has been filed. He submits that the charge-sheet is already filed.
3.
On the other hand, Mr. Mhatre, learned Counsel appointed to represent the interest of the Respondent No.2 and Mr. Mangaonkar, learned APP strongly oppose the Anticipatory Bail Application. Both of them submit that the Applicant has threatened the public servants that they would be assaulted. Both of them
submit that the public servants have been abused and prima facie case is there and therefore, the Anticipatory Bail Application be rejected.
4.
Mr. Mangaonkar, learned APP submits that the charge-sheet has been filed on 31st December 2024. Although there are three antecedents, in two antecedents, the Applicant has been acquitted and in one antecedent, althoughthe case is pending, the Applicant has been released on bail. In any case, as the charge-sheet is filed, thus, the investigation is completed.
5.
A learned Single Judge has protected the Applicant by order dated 29th October 2024 and said protection is continued for about one year and three months.
6.
Accordingly, the Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of in terms of order dated 29th October 2024.
Digitally signed by SONALI MILIND PATIL Date:
2026.01.14 19:18:25 +0530 [MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.] SONALI MILIND PATIL