Amol Sudhakar Gawali v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2807 OF 2025 Amol Sudhakar Gawali ... Applicant

Versus

State Of Maharashtra And Anr ... Respondents by NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE Date: 2026.01.16 15:35:03 +0530 NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE ________________________________________________________ Ms.Manisha Devkar a/w Ms.Anjali Kondvilkar, for the Applicant. Ms.P.P. Jadhav, APP for Respondent-State.

Ms.Kanchan Pawar, for Respondent No.2-Appointed Advocate. Ms.Madhumati Shinde, API, Pimpri Police Station. ________________________________________________________ CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 13th JANUARY, 2026 P.C. :

.

By this Application, Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.1045 of 2024, registered with Pimpri Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Section 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act ('BNS' for short) and Sections 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012 ('POCSO' for short). 2.

It is prosecution's case that, on 16th November 2024, the Applicant picked up the minor daughter of the First Informant, who was playing in front of her house, and outraged her modesty.

3.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that, the Applicant is behind bar for more than one year. There is no progress in trial. It may take time to conclude the trial, and requested to allow the Application.

4.

It is contention of learned APP alongwith learned counsel for the Respondent No.2 that the Applicant outraged modesty of victim, who was about 8 years old. If Applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten prosecution witnesses and victim, and requested to reject the Application. 5.

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

6.

The maximum punishment prescribed for the offences registered against the Applicant is of 3 years. The Applicant is behind bar for more than one year. There is no progress in trial. 7.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant-Amol Sudhakar Gawali be released on bail in Crime No.1045 of 2024, registered with Pimpri Police Station, Pune, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.5,000/- 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) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)