Akash Tukaram Randhve And Another v. The State Of Maharashtra
2025:BHC-AUG:14602
IN THE JUDICATURE OF HIGH COURT AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD 966 BAIL APPLICATION NO. 862 OF 2025
1. Akash Tukaram Randhve,
2. Ramprasad @ Balu Digambar Shinde.
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra ...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Dhananjay M. Shinde h/f Mr. Deshmukh Chaitanya Satishrao APP for Respondents-State: Mr. V. M. Jaware ...
WITH BAIL APPLICATION NO. 865 OF 2025
1. Vishal s/o Gajanan Dongare,
2. Ganesh Tatyarao Shirkhande.
VERSUS
The State Of Maharashtra ...
Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Dhananjay M. Shinde h/f Mr. Deshmukh Chaitanya Satishrao APP for Respondents-State: Mr. V. M. Jaware ...
CORAM : ARUN R. PEDNEKER, J.
Dated : June 11, 2025.
PER COURT :- 1.
Heard the learned Counsel for the applicants and the learned APP for the respondent-State.
2.
The applicants are seeking bail in connection with FIR No.0062/2025 dated 22/03/2025, registered with Maujpuri Police Station, District Jalna, for the offences punishable under Sections 140(2), 3(5), 309(4), 351(2), 351(3), and 310(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 3.
The FIR has been lodged by the informant against unknown persons. It is alleged that on 22/03/2025 at night time, four individuals aged between 25 to 30 years, each approximately 51⁄2 feet tall, arrived in a white-coloured 1 of
Scorpio vehicle. Their faces were covered with black handkerchiefs. The informant states that these individuals snatched Rs.15,000 from his pocket, forcibly took him into the vehicle, assaulted him, and later released him. He was also allegedly threatened and asked to pay Rs.25 lakhs, failing which he was warned of dire consequences. Furthermore, it is stated that on the same day, at around 3:30 p.m., the informant received a phone call from mobile number 7057425102 reiterating the demand and threats against him and his family members. Thereafter, the FIR was registered against unknown persons.
4.
It is stated that, based on suspicion, four persons were arrested on 28/03/2025. Subsequently, on 02/04/2025, the supplementary statement of the informant was recorded, during which he claimed to have identified one of the accused as his former employee, Mr. Akash Tukaram Randhave. However, there is no explanation as to how such identification was possible, considering the initial FIR clearly mentioned that all the accused had covered their faces. Notably, the informant did not identify Akash Randhave, his own former employee, at the time of lodging the FIR. There is no material on record to indicate the basis on which the applicants were arrested.
5.
Moreover, even in the supplementary statement, the informant does not categorically state that the arrested accused were the ones who 2 of
abducted and assaulted him during the intervening night of 21/03/2025 and 22/03/2025. He merely states that one of them was his former employee, and as to the others, he has not identified them as the perpetrators of the crime.
6.
Considering the above circumstances, it is not clear how the accused came to be arrested or what material connects them to the alleged offence. The applicants have been in custody since 28/03/2025. There is no recovery effected at their instance, neither the vehicle used in the crime nor the alleged extorted amount has been recovered. There are no criminal antecedents against the applicants. The nature of allegations, in the absence of supporting material, does not warrant further custody of the applicants.
7.
In view of the above, the application is allowed in the following terms: - a] The applicants shall be released on bail in connection with FIR FIR No.0062/2025, dated 22/03/2025, registered with Maujpuri Police Station, District Jalna, for the offences punishable under sections 140 (2), 3(5), 309(4), 351(2), 351(3), 310(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court.
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b] The applicants, upon being released on bail, shall not contact the informant, in any manner whatsoever, during the pendency of the trial.
c] The applicants shall co-operate with the trial Court and they shall attend each and every date, unless exempted by the trial Court.
d] The applicants shall not tamper with the evidence of the prosecution and they shall not influence the informant, witnesses and other persons concerned with the case.
e] The applicants, upon being released on bail, shall place on record of the trial Court the details of their Contact Number and residential address with updates in case of any change. 8.
Needless to say, in case of violation of any of the aforesaid conditions, the bail granted to the applicant shall be liable to be cancelled. It is also clarified that the observations made in this order are limited to the disposal of the present bail application. The concerned Court shall proceed further in the matter without being influenced by the observations made hereinabove.
9.
The applications stand disposed of.
( ARUN R. PEDNEKER, J. ) vj gawade/-.
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