Vasudatta Bharat Dube v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1068 OF 2025 Vasudatta Bharat Dube ... Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra ... Respondent ____________________________________________________________ by NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE Date: 2026.02.27 15:15:06 +0530 Mr.Satyam Harshad Nimbalkar i/b Mr.Yash Vishal Saxena and Mr.Prasanjay J. Sahani and Mr.Vaibhav More, for the Applicant. Mr.P.P. Jadhav, APP for Respondent-State.

Mr.Ketan Mutha, for Respondent No.2 (Through V.C.) Mr.Dinesh Sakat, PSI, EOW, Pimpri Chinchwad.

NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE ____________________________________________________________ CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 26th FEBRUARY 2026 P.C. :

.

By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No. 701 of 2024 registered with Hinjewadi Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 419, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120B read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC' for short). 2.

It is prosecution's case that the Applicant lured the First Informant to invest money by assuring handsome returns. It is alleged that the Applicant and co-accused prepared forged documents by showing illiterate co-accused as educated person and prepared false salary slips of

them and obtained housing loan from the banks by showing the said salary slips.

3.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that all coaccused except Applicant having similar allegations have been released on bail. The Bank Manager's statement is recorded by the Investigating Officer. In the said statement, he has not stated that the bank has been cheated. The Applicant is behind bars for more than one year and eight months. The Applicant has no antecedents. There is no progress in trial, and requested to allow the Application.

4.

It is contention of learned APP along with learned counsel for Respondent No.2 that the Applicant had taken Rs.90 lakhs cash from the First Informant. He prepared false salary slips and secured loan on it from the various banks. If the Applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten First Informant and prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the Application.

5.

I have heard all learned counsel. Perused charge-sheet and documents produced on record.

6.

It is alleged that the First Informant paid Rs.90 lakhs cash to the Applicant, to prove it evidence is required. The allegations in respect of preparing false salary slip and documents and obtaining loan from the bank

also requires evidence. The statement of the bank Manager does not show about irregularity in loan obtained. To prove the allegations against the Applicant, evidence is required. The co-accused having similar allegations have been released on bail. Hence, the Applicant is entitled for bail on principle of parity and I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant be released on bail in Crime No. 701 of 2024 registered with Hinjewadi Police Station, Pune, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and/or influence the prosecution witnesses.

(iii) The Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.

(iv) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when required.

(v) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)