Vishal Vilas Galande v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.2202 OF 2025 HARISH VITHAL CHAUDHARI Vishal Vilas Galande ... Applicant.

Vs.

The State of Maharashtra ... Respondent.

by HARISH VITHAL CHAUDHARI Date:

2025.06.25 21:42:54 +0530 --- Mr. Pandit Kasar Advocate for the Applicant.

Mr. S. S. Chaudhari, APP for Respondent/State. --- CORAM : ASHWIN D.BHOBE, J.

DATE : 24th JUNE, 2025.

P.C. :

1.

Heard Mr. Pandit Kasar for the Applicant and Mr. S. S. Chaudhari, learned APP for the State.

2.

By the present bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the Applicant is seeking bail in connection with Cr. No. 156/2024 registered with Bhigwan Police Station for the offences punishable under Section 420, 489-A, 489-B read with Section 34 of of the Indian Penal Code. 3.

FIR in the present crime has been lodged at the instance of the Informant Gokarn Potekar. Case of the prosecution is that the Applicant along with three other accused persons purchased three

goats from Mr. Gokarn Potekar. Applicant and the others accused handed over 18 currency notes of Rs. 500/-, 33 currency notes of Rs. 200/- and 99 currency notes of Rs.100/- to Mr. Gokarn Potekar. Said currency notes were found to be counterfeit currency notes. Counterfeit currency notes were recovered from the house of the Applicant.

4.

Accused (Accused no.3) was arrested on 21st April 2024. There are four accused in the said crime. Mr. Kasar, learned advocate for the Applicant states that the said crime is now registered as Sessions Case No. 100/2024.

5.

Bail Application at Exhibit-09 filed by the Applicant in Sessions Case No.100/2024 was rejected by the Additional Sessions Judge, Baramati, by order dated 3rd January, 2025. 6.

Mr. Kasar, learned advocate for the Applicant submits that the Applicant has been falsely implicated on the basis of a statement made by the co-accused in the said crime. He submits that statement made by the co-accused is inadmissible in evidence. He submits that though a panchanama was conducted at the house of the Applicant and counterfeit currency recovered from the house of the Applicant, there are no allegations of the Applicant having either scanned or

printed the currency notes. He submits that the Accused no. 2 in the present crime has been released on bail. He submits that the accused no. 2 having been released in the said crime, the Applicant is entitled to bail on parity.

7.

Mr. Chaudhari, learned APP, submits that the offence charged against the applicant is pre-planned offence and involves counterfeiting currency notes. He submits that the panchanama of the house of the Applicant was conducted, after the arrest of the Applicant. He submits that the counterfeit currency was found at the residence of the Applicant. He submits that though the Accused no. 2 has been released in the said crime, however, the records of the investigation indicates that the involvement of the Accused no. 2 is neither similar nor identical to the involvement of the Applicant in the present crime. He opposes the bail application. 8.

I have perused the records with the assistance of the Advocates for the parties.

9.

Material placed on record reveals that counterfeit currency notes have been recovered from the house of the Applicant. Nature of allegations in the present crime do not indicate that the Applicant has unknowingly come into possession of the counterfeit

currency notes. Supply and circulation of fake currency notes represent a serious threat to the economy, national security and individual well being. Counterfeit currency notes were attempted to be circulated by the accused in the above said crime. Considering the gravity of the allegations and the material indicating the involvement of the Applicant, the Applicant is not entitled to discretionary reliefs of bail.

10.

For the above reasons Bail Application No.2202/2025 is dismissed.

[ ASHWIN D.BHOBE, J.]