Prakash Maruti Sonawane And ANR v. The State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.3534 OF 2024 ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR

1. Prakash Maruti Sonawane

2. Rohit Prakash Sonawane ...Applicants

Versus

The State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date: 2026.02.10 21:57:33 +0530 Mr. Rajabhau S. Chaudhari a/w Arun Shejwal, for the Applicants. Ms. R. V. Newton, APP, for the Respondent-State.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED:

10 FEBRUARY 2026 PC:- 1.

Heard Mr. Chaudhari, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants and Ms. Newton, learned APP for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra.

2.

By the present Anticipatory Bail Application filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Applicants are seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.571 of 2023 registered with the Yerwada Police Station, Pune City, for the offences punishable under Sections 120B, 389, 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

3.

As per the prosecution case, the Applicants, although have sold the subject flat to Amol Suresh Shelar and Jayashree Amol Shelar, agreed to sale the same to the First Informant - Dnyaneshwar Shivaji Shelke and accepted an amount of Rs.12,00,000/- from the First Informant.

4.

Mr. Chaudhari, learned Counsel for the Applicants, submitted that the Applicants and the First Informant have settled the dispute and accordingly filed Criminal Application No.131 of 2025 seeking quashing of the FIR, wherein a Consent Affidavit has been given by the First Informant. A photocopy of the Consent Affidavit has been tendered by Mr. Chaudhari, learned Counsel for the Applicants. The same is taken on record and marked "X" for identification.

5.

Accordingly, case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. In view thereof, the following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant No.1 - Prakash Maruti Sonawane and Applicant No.2 - Rohit Prakash Sonawane, in connection with CR No.571 of 2023

registered with the Yerwada Police Station, Pune City, they be released on bail on their furnishing PR Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- each with one or two solvent sureties each in the like amount.

(b) The Applicants shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when called by the Investigating Officer, till filing of the Charge-sheet and shall cooperate with the investigation.

(c) The Applicants shall furnish their cell phone numbers and residential addresses to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated, in case of any change thereto.

(d) The Applicants shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade such a person from disclosing the facts to the Court or to any Police personnel.

(e) The Applicants shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant or any witness in any manner.

6.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of accordingly. [MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]