Ranjit Simanchal Mahanti And ORS v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

by GAYATRI RAJENDRA SHIMPI Date:

2026.01.28 19:24:10 +0530 GAYATRI RAJENDRA SHIMPI CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 126 OF 2026 Ranjit Simanchal Mahanti & Ors.

... Petitioners V/s.

The State of Maharashtra & Anr.

... Respondents --- Mr. Vinay Choudhary, Advocate for the Petitioners. Ms. Pallavi Dabholkar, APP for Respondent - State. Mr. R. B. Madane - PSI & Mr. Naik - IO, Kolshewadi Police Station, Thane, City.

--- CORAM :

ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.

DATE :

21st JANUARY, 2026.

P.C. :

1.

This Petition under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS'). The Petitioners seek for quashing and is preferred for quashing the First Information Report bearing No. 0517 of 2025 dated 1st July, 2025 registered at Kolsewadi Police Station, Thane City, against the Petitioners for the offences punishable under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This Petition was

heard on 19th January, 2026 and was adjourned for today, at the request of Mr. Vinay Choudhary, learned Advocate for Petitioners. 2.

Ms. Pallavi Dabholkar, learned APP for the State, on instructions from the Investigation Officer Mr. P. I. Naik, submits that during the course of investigation no material has come on record against the Petitioner No. 2 (Sudhir Ashok Singh) and Petitioner No. 3 (Krishnachandra Surendra Pujari). She therefore, on instructions from the Investigation Officer, states that the prosecution would be dropping the said Accused from the aforereferred crime. Statement made by her is taken on record. 3.

In view of the statement made by Ms. Pallavi Dabholkar, learned APP for the State, Mr. Vinay Choudhary, learned Advocate for Petitioner No. 1 Petitioner No. 1 craves leave to withdraw the present Petition with liberty to file Application seeking discharge before the Trial Court at the appropriate stage. 4.

In view of the above, leave granted to withdraw the present Petition, Petitioner No. 1 is at liberty to file an application seeking discharge before the Trial Court at the appropriate stage. If

such application is filed, the same be considered on its own merits and in accordance with law.

5.

Writ Petition is therefore partly allowed with the liberty as above.

6.

Writ Petition No. 126 of 2026 is disposed of. (ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)