Sohan Singh @ Sonu Rajput v. State Of Maharashtra
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION VASANT ANANDRAO IDHOL CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.3948 OF 2025 by VASANT ANANDRAO IDHOL Date:
2026.03.10 13:17:04 +0530 Sohan Singh @ Sonu Rajput ...Applicant V/s.
State of Maharashtra
...Respondent
Mr.Chaitanya Purankar for the Applicant.
Mr.M.S. Sonavane,APP for the State - Respondent. CORAM : R.M. JOSHI , J.
DATE : 9TH MARCH, 2026.
P.C. :- 1.
This bail application is filed essentially on the ground of long incarceration. The Applicant is seeking bail in connection with Crime No.111 of 2015 registered with Nizampura Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 394, 341, 120-B, 450 r/w 34 of IPC. and Section 37(1) r/w 135 of the Mumbai Police Act and offences under the Arms Act. 2.
It is the case of the prosecution that in the incident in question, the deceased was killed pursuant to the conspiracy 1/4
hatched between the accused persons.
3.
Learned counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant was arrested on 20th June, 2015 and since then he is in custody. It is his submission that the prosecution intended to examine in all 39 witnesses out of which only 11 witnesses are examined till date. He drew the attention of the Court to the order passed by this Court on 21st August, 2025 in Bail Application No.3299 of 2025 granting bail to the co-accused against whom similar acts are alleged. It is his submissions that at the time of passing of the said order, 9 witnesses were examined and during the period of 7 to 8 months, only 2 witnesses are examined before the Trial Court. It is his submission that there is no possibility of getting over of the trial in reasonable time.
4.
He therefore, seeks enlargement of the Applicant on bail.
5.
Learned APP opposed the application by citing the seriousness of the crime.
6.
There is no dispute about the fact that the Applicant 2/4
was arrested on 20th June, 2015 and since then he is in jail. Even if the offence charged against him is serious in nature, there is absolutely no justification for non-completion of trial over a period of 10 years from his arrest. Moreover, similarly placed accused has been granted bail by this Court by an order dated 21st August, 2025 passed in Bail Application no.3299 of 2025. This order has not been taken exception to by the prosecution till date. This Court therefore finds no justification not to grant bail to the accused on the ground of parity as well as on the ground of prolonged incarceration. Hence the following order :- O R D E R :
i).
The Bail Application is allowed.
ii).
The Applicant shall be released on bail in connection with Crime No.111 of 2015 registered with Nizampura Police Station, upon furnishing a Personal Bond of Rs.25,000/- along with one or more solvent sureties in the like amount, to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Court, subject to the following conditions :- a).
The Applicant shall attend the Investigating Officer of 3/4
Nijampura Police Station once in a week, every Sunday of the week between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
b).
The Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing the facts to the Court or any Police Officer. The Applicant shall not tamper with evidence.
c).
On being released on bail, the Applicant shall furnish his contact number and residential address to the Investigating Officer and shall keep him updated, in case there is any change. d).
The Applicant shall not leave the Thane District after being released on bail, till the trial concludes. e).
The Applicant shall attend the trial regularly. The Applicant shall co-operate with the Trial Court and shall not seek unnecessary adjournments.
7.
The Bail Application is disposed of in above terms. (R.M. JOSHI, J.) 4/4