Mukesh S/O Ramesh Bidhane v. State Of Maharashtra Thr Pso., Ps Koradi, Dist. Nagpur
1 26.ba.1422.2025
IN THE HIGH
COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 1422 OF 2025 Mukesh s/o Ramesh Bidhane ..vs..
State of Maharashtra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shri N.D. Khamborkar, Advocate for the applicant. Ms P.C. Bawankule, APP for the State.
CORAM: M.M. NERLIKAR, J.
DATE :
28.01.2026.
Heard the learned Counsel for the applicant, learned APP appearing for the State.
2.
By way of this application, the applicant is seeking bail in connection with Crime No.139 of 2025 registered with Koradi Police Station, District Nagpur for the offence punishable under Sections 61(2), 316(5), 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
3.
The FIR has been registered against the present applicant alleging misappropriation of funds of Rs.56,845/- of Gram Panchayat by printing fake tax receipts and collecting amount from the public at large. 4.
It is the submission of the learned Counsel for the applicant that the principal allegations against the present applicant is that he has misappropriated the amount to the tune of Rs.56,845/- of the Gram Panchayat by printing fake tax receipts and collecting the amount on that from the innocent villagers. It is alleged that said misappropriation was done between 2015 to
2 26.ba.1422.2025 2025. However, the applicant has started working with the Gram Panchayat since 2020. It is the submission of the learned Counsel for the applicant that he was not aware about printing of fake tax receipts. One Prakash Jadhav (accused no.12) who is the main culprit has printed the fake tax receipts. The applicant had collected the tax however, he deposited the same with the higher official's, and therefore, he is not concerned with the said crime. The applicant was made scapegoat in the said crime, the big fishes are other accused and therefore, the applicant being a contractual employee of the Gram Panchayat, he played no role in the misappropriation and prays to release him on bail since the applicant was arrested on 07.04.2025 and the investigation is complete and charge-sheet has been filed.
5.
On the other hand, learned APP submits that the enquiry has been conduced against the present applicant, in which the applicant was found responsible for misappropriating Rs.56,145/-. It is submitted by the learned APP that till today, approx. Rs.40.36 lakhs of rupees is found to be misappropriated. The present applicant printed fake tax receipts and collect the tax from the innocent villagers. The punishment provided is life imprisonment for which he was chargesheeted, considering ample evidence against the present applicant, he does not deserves to be enlarged on bail. 6.
I have heard the learned Counsel appearing for the parties and perused the record.
7.
It appears that the applicant was involved in the misappropriation of Rs.56,145/-. Prima facie, it appears
3 26.ba.1422.2025 that he has not printed tax receipts however it was the accused no.12 Prakash Jadhav, who has printed tax receipts which were handed over to the present applicant for collection of the tax. On which the applicant collected the tax from the villagers, however instead of depositing the same with the account of gram panchayat, he has not done so and accordingly, it is alleged that he has misappropriated the amount.
8.
Considering the fact that the present applicant is not the main culprit and that the case is completely based on the documentary evidence, which was collected by the Investigating Officer, I am inclined to grant bail to the present applicant, as the investigation is complete and charge-sheet has been filed. Hence the following order :
(a) The application is allowed and disposed of.
(b) The applicant/accused Mukesh s/o Ramesh Bidhane be released on regular bail in connection with Crime No.139 of 2025 registered with Koradi Police Station, District Nagpur on furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs.25,000/- with one surety in the like amount.
(c) The accused shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case, as also shall not tamper with the evidence.
(d) The accused shall attend each and every date of trial regularly. If he fails to attend the trial for two consecutive dates, or fails to comply with the
4 26.ba.1422.2025 aforesaid conditions, his default would entail the State to ask for cancellation of bail.
9.
All Misc. Applications pending, if any, shall also stands disposed of .
(M.M. NERLIKAR , J.
) Trupti Signed by: Trupti D. Agrawal Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 28/01/2026 18:07:00