Tejas Nandkumar Nalawde v. The State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO.3759 OF 2025 Tejas Nandkumar Nalawde .....Applicant Vs.

The State Of Maharashatra .....Respondents Mr. Kunal V. Patil, for the Applicant.

Mr. Pankaj P. Deokar, APP, for the Respondent-State. Mr. Mahavir Kate, PSI, Shahapur Police Station. CORAM : MRS. VRUSHALI V. JOSHI, J.

DATED : 5th FEBRUARY 2026 P.C.:- 1.

The Applicant has been arrested in C.R. No. 24 of 2024 for the offences punishable under Sections 498-A, 304-B, 323 and 504 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 2.

The marriage of the deceased was solemnized with the Applicant on 27th April 2023. The deceased committed suicide on 14th January 2024. The mother of the deceased thereafter lodged the complaint against the Applicant and his family members. 3.

The learned counsel appearing for the Applicant submits that the marriage was a love marriage and that the allegations regarding 1/5

demand of money are false. It is submitted that the Applicant and the deceased were jointly running a canteen and that the deceased was aspiring to pursue a career in modelling, due to which she was under stress. It is further submitted that even prior to the marriage, the deceased had attempted to commit suicide by cutting her vein. 4.

It is alleged that the Applicant demanded money, on account of which the deceased committed suicide by hanging herself. It is further alleged that, prior to committing suicide, the deceased informed her parents that the Applicant had beaten her. 5.

The learned counsel appearing for the Applicant submits that, as per the post-mortem report, there are no injuries on the person of the deceased. It is submitted that the marriage was a result of a love affair and that both the Applicant and the deceased were jointly running a canteen, which was subsequently closed due to financial constraints.

6.

It is further submitted that the Applicant has been in custody for the last two years, that the charge came to be framed in August 2025, and that till date no prosecution witness has been examined. 2/5

On these grounds, the learned counsel prays for release of the Applicant on bail.

7.

The learned APP opposed the Application, submitting that there are specific allegations of demand of dowry and that the case pertains to a dowry death. It is further submitted that, though the relatives of the Applicant have been released on bail, there are specific and distinct allegations against the present Applicant. On these grounds, the learned APP prays for rejection of the Application. 8.

Heard the learned counsel appearing for both the parties. 9.

The learned counsel appearing for the Applicant submits that the deceased had attempted to commit suicide even prior to her marriage and that, within a period of seven months of marriage, though it was a love marriage, she committed suicide by hanging herself. This, according to the learned counsel, indicates that the deceased had suicidal tendencies. It is further submitted that, despite allegations of assault, there are no injuries found on the person of the deceased.

10.

Considering the earlier attempt to commit suicide and the fact 3/5

that the marriage was a love marriage, a case is made out for grant of bail to the Applicant. Hence, the following orders:

ORDER

i) Applicant is allowed.

ii) The applicant, namely, Tejas Nandkumar Nalawde shall furnish personal bond of Rs.25,000/- with his recent self-attested photograph and surety of the like amount on the following conditions at the satisfaction of the investigating officer;

iii) The Applicant shall remain present before the concerned Police Station on every Thursday between 11.00 a.m. to 01.00 p.m;

iv) The applicant shall cooperate with the investigation and make himself available for interrogation whenever required;

v) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any witness acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police officer; vi) The applicant shall not obstruct or hamper the police investigation and not to play mischief with the evidence collected or yet to be collected by the Police; 4/5

vii) The applicant shall maintain law and order;

viii) The applicant shall, at the time of execution of the bond, furnish his residential address and contact number to the Investigating Officer, and the court concerned, and shall not change the residence till the final disposal of the case; ix) The applicant shall regularly remain present during the trial, and cooperate with the Hon'ble Court to complete the trial for the above offenses.

(MRS. VRUSHALI V. JOSHI, J.) 5/5