Rajshri W/O Digambar Dere v. State Of Maharashtra Thr Pso. Sadar, Dist. Nagpur

2026:BHC-NAG:1054

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.

CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1326 OF 2025 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1327 OF 2025 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1329 OF 2025 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1330 OF 2025 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1331 OF 2025 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1332 OF 2025 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1333 OF 2025 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1334 OF 2025 Rajshri w/o Digambar Dere -- VERSUS -- State of Maharashtra __________________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders.

and Registrar's Orders.

Dr. Mohan S. Gawai, a/w. Mr. V.S. Wankhade, Advocate for the Applicant.

Mr. V.A. Thakre, A.P.P. for the Non-applicant/State. COMMON ORDER CORAM :

M.M. NERLIKAR, J.

DATE :

JANUARY 20, 2026.

Heard.

2.

As the allegations in all charge-sheets are similar, so far as the present applicant is

concerned, all aforesaid bail applications are taken together for consideration and disposal.

3.

The present application is filed seeking regular bail in Criminal Application [B.A.] No.1326/2025 in Crime No.16/2024, Criminal Application [B.A.] No.1327/2025 in Crime No.11/2024, Criminal Application [B.A.] No.1329/2025 in Crime No.14/2024, Criminal Application [B.A.] No.1330/2025 in Crime No.718/2024, Criminal Application [B.A.] No.1331/2025 in Crime No.10/2024, Criminal Application [B.A.] No.1332/2025 in Crime No.09/2024, Criminal Application [B.A.] No.1333/2025 in Crime No.08/2024 and Criminal Application [B.A.] No.1334/2025 in Crime No.15/2024, for the offences punishable under Sections 120-B, 201, 381, 409, 418, 420, 467, 468, 471, 477-A, 411 and 413 of Indian Penal Code, 1860, registered with Police Station Sadar, District Nagpur. 4.

The First Information Report was lodged by Shri Abhay Khasale, Registrar, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Nagpur. The case of the prosecution is that one person, namely, Digambar Dere, who is the husband of the present applicant was posted as a Junior Clerk on the establishment of M.A.C.T., Nagpur. He was deputed with the work of distribution of the claim amount. However, the

officials on the establishment started receiving complaints that the compensation amount were not deposited in their accounts. Some of them also did not receive their fixed deposit amounts. During investigation, it transpired that by forming a syndicate of his family members, relatives and others, Digambar Dere has transferred the aforesaid amounts by committing theft and misappropriation of the said amount into the personal accounts of his family members, relatives and other persons. During the period from 01/04/2019 to 31/03/2020 huge amount was transferred into the account of the present applicant.

5.

The learned counsel appearing for the applicant submits that the present applicant is the wife of main accused - Digambar, who was working as Junior Clerk in the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal. He has siphoned off the amount of more than Rs.41 Crore which is belonging to the claimants by way of compensation and fixed deposit claims in the motor accidents tribunal. He further submits that the present applicant, being the wife, her account was under domain of her husband as she is educated only upto 10th standard. She was not knowing anything about the deposit made in her account by her husband. He further submits that even the signatures are forged by the husband. Lastly, prayed

that, as the investigation is complete and chargesheet is filed, bail may be granted. 6.

On the other hand, the learned A.P.P.

vehemently opposes the application. He submits that it is a conspiracy hatched by the husband of present applicant. There are total 11 crimes are registered and each crime has been independently investigated by the investigation authorities. He further submits that insofar as in all the crimes, the amount was either transferred in the name of present applicant or the properties are purchased by the applicant in her own name from PLA / Treasury receipts and FDR proceeds which is amounting to more than Rs.13 crores. The said figure was arrived on the basis of the forensic audit report. He further submits that considering the conspiracy and active involvement of the present applicant, the applicant does not deserve to be enlarged on bail.

7.

Upon careful perusal of the investigation papers and after considering the submissions advanced at length, it appears that, total 11 crimes are registered against the present applicant. It further appears that investigation was carried out independently in each of the crime. It appears that in 8 crimes, the charge-sheet is filed, however, 3 crimes are still under investigation. So far as one of the crime is concerned, i.e., Crime No.669/2023, trial has

started. It appears from the documents and the audit report that in every crime there was a transfer of amount from PLA / Treasury and FDR proceeds in the account of the present applicant. In all these crimes, more than 13 Crore rupees are transferred in the name of present applicant. It could be further noticed that several properties including movable as well as immovable properties are purchased in the name of present applicant.

8.

As was argued by the learned counsel for the applicant that she has no concern with all these crimes and she was not having knowledge about the transactions made in the name of the present applicant by her husband. This cannot be accepted, at present, for the reason that the Audit report goes to show that the first transaction is of Rs.19,50,000/- which was directly transferred from PLA Treasury on 09/01/2019 to the Seller - Miss Anubai Sudhirrao Ambarte. This property was purchased in the name of Rajashree Dere and Gopal Datta Jare by registered sale deed. The second property, i.e., Flat was purchased for Rs.2,22,563/- by payment of cheque. The third property, i.e., Flat was purchased by the present applicant for Rs.30,00,000/- on her own name and Digambar Dere. Another property purchased is the Cotton Mil to the tune of Rs.3,24,00,000/- which stands in name

of the present applicant and one Ujwala Bhimrao Bhagat (mother of the present applicant). Three agricultural lands amounting to Rs.15,75,000/-, Rs.60,95,000/- and Rs.3,27,000/- were also purchased in the applicant's name. Further, property was purchased, i.e., flat in the name of present applicant for Rs.23,50,000/-. All these properties are purchased by the present applicant by registered sale deed, and therefore, it cannot be believed that all these properties are purchased by Digambar in the name of applicant without her consent or knowledge. The transactions are in the nature of registered sale deeds. It is surprising that the present applicant has not even asked her husband in respect of source of his income.

Further, it is to be noted that one transport company was started in the name of present applicant by Digambar for which 19 vehicles were purchased in the name of the transport company, i.e., Ganga Transport Company. As huge transactions took place in the name of the present applicant submissions of the learned counsel appearing for the applicant that she was ignorant of all these facts cannot be accepted.

9.

It is further to be noted that the husband of the applicant has taken undue advantage as he was entrusted with maintenance of registers, the disbursement of the amount of compensation, etc.

However, the amount was diverted either in the bank account of present applicant, relatives and others. This transfer has caused loss to the concerned claimants who are waiting for their rightful compensation amount. The fact also remains that the present applicant is also the beneficiary of the said amount. Therefore, I am not inclined to grant bail in any of the crimes. Hence, all the applications are rejected. Pending Miscellaneous Applications, if any, also stands disposed of.

[ M.M. NERLIKAR, J ] Piyush Mahajan