Ashok Kisan Mane v. The State Of Maharashtra And Others
2026:BHC-AUG:8268 -1IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2547 OF 2025 ASHOK KISAN MANE
VERSUS
THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ORS *** Advocate for Applicants : Mr. Shashikant E. Shekade APP for Respondents-State : Mr. B. B. Bhise Advocate for Respondent No. 3 : Mr. Satyajit S. Bora *** CORAM : SACHIN S. DESHMUKH, J.
Date : 23rd February, 2026 ORDER :- 1.
The applicants has approached this Court seeking regular bail in connection with FIR dated 21.09.2025 bearing Crime No. 253 of 2025 registered with Neknoor Police Station, Dist. Beed for the offences punishable under Sections 74, 75, 118(1), 115(2), 352, 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 alongwith Sections 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
2.
The case of the prosecution is that on 21.09.2025 approximately at 08:30 am, the victim's mother Shindu left her residence to fetch water at the nearby hand-pump. As the victim walked behind her, a Scorpio car stopped in front of her near one
-2grocery shop. Two men, identified as Ashok Kisan Mane and Mangesh (Ashok) Vilas Mane, alighted the vehicle. Mangesh Mane told the victim to stop, claiming Ashok had work with her. Ashok Mane then told the victim he liked her and had been following her for a long time. When the victim rejected his advances and threatened to inform her father, Ashok Mane grabbed her left hand with improper intent and pushed her towards him, stating he was not afraid of her father. Upon seeing the victim's mother approaching, the accused released the victim and fled in the car. 3.
After the victim and her mother returned home and informed her father, Chandrakant Muralidhar Bage, the family went to the house of the accused to confront them. They encountered Ashok Mane, Mangesh Mane, and Amol Kisan Mane at the village square. When the victim's father questioned Ashok Mane about the molestation, the accused began abusing and threatening the family. Ashok Mane then produced a pocket knife and stabbed Chandrakant Bage in the back, causing an injury. During the altercation, Mangesh Mane slapped the victim's mother, and Amol Kisan Mane threatened to kill the family or abduct the victim if she does not perform marriage with Ashok.
-34.
The altercation was eventually stopped by witnesses Vikas Vishnu Savase and Chandrasen Bapurao Mane. After the witnesses were informed of the reason for the dispute, the injured father was taken to the Government Hospital in Beed for treatment. Consequently, a FIR was lodged.
5.
The learned counsel for the applicant submits that the present FIR is a result of deep-seated village rivalry and has been filed with the malicious intent to harass the applicant and his family. There is no credible or independent evidence to substantiate the allegations of molestation. The investigation is complete and the charge-sheet is filed. Nothing remains to be recovered at the instance of applicant. Hence, it is prayed that the application be allowed.
6.
The learned APP opposed the application, submitting that the offence is serious in nature and that there is sufficient material on record to establish the applicant's complicity. Furthermore, the APP argued that if the applicant is released on bail, there is every possibility of the prosecution evidence being tampered with. Accordingly, it was prayed that the application be rejected.
-47.
Upon considering the submissions of both sides and perusing the material on record, including the charge-sheet, while the prosecution alleges an act of molestation and assault on 21.09.2025, the case primarily rests on the statements of the complainant and her parents, who are "interested witnesses." At this preliminary stage, the veracity of the claim regarding "bad intention" and the sequence of the physical scuffle are matters of trial.
8.
The prosecution's claim involving a pocket knife suggests an assault under Section 118 BNS (or Section 324 IPC). However, the medical certificate from the Government Hospital, Beed, indicates that the injury sustained by Chandrakant Bage is "simple" in nature and not on a vital organ. The recovery of the weapons is already complete and hence, the custodial interrogation of the accused is no longer deemed essential. 9.
Moreover, the arrest of the applicants is effected on 26.09.2025 and since then, he is in jail. The investigation is complete for all intent and purpose. As such, further incarceration of the applicant as an under trial prisoner, in the circumstances of
-5the case, does not seem to be either warranted or justifiable. I am, therefore, persuaded to exercise the discretion in favour of the applicant.
10.
Hence, the following order:
ORDER
(I) The Bail Application is allowed.
(II) Applicant - Ashok Kisan Mane be released on regular bail on furnishing P.R. bond of Rs. 50,000/- (Fifty Thousand Only) with one or two local solvent sureties in the like amount, in Crime No. 253 of 2025 registered with Neknoor Police Station, Dist. Beed for the offences punishable under Sections 74, 75, 118(1), 115(2), 352, 351(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 alongwith Sections 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, on the following conditions :- (a) The applicant shall attend each and every date of the Trial Court unless exempted by the Trial Court. (b) The applicant shall not enter in entire village of Patoda Belkhandi, Dist. Beed, till conclusion of trial. (c) The applicants shall not pressurize the prosecution witnesses and shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence, in any manner.
-6- (d) The applicants shall submit his Aadhar and Pan Card to the Investigation Officer and detailed addresses and phone numbers of applicant and two of the near relatives.
(e) Breach of any of the conditions by the applicants would entail the cancellation of the bail.
(iii) Needless to states that the observations rendered herein are to the extent of this application and the trial court shall not be influenced by the same. (SACHIN S. DESHMUKH, J.) Omkar Joshi