Monty Balvinder Singh v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION VASANT ANANDRAO IDHOL CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.4242 OF 2025 by VASANT ANANDRAO IDHOL Date:

2026.03.26 11:46:57 +0530 Monty B. Singh ...Applicant V/s.

State of Maharashtra & Anr.

..Respondents Ms.Tripti R. Shetty for the Applicant.

Ms.S.D. Shinde, APP for the State - Respondent. Mr.Firoz Behlim for Respondent No.2.

CORAM : R.M. JOSHI , J.

DATE : 11TH MARCH, 2026.

P.C. :- 1.

The Applicant seeks enlargement on bail in connection with Crime No.508 of 2025, registered with Koparkhairne Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 64(1), 65(1), 143 and 96 of BNS, 2023 and Sections 4, 5 (n), 6 of POCSO Act and Sections 4 and 5 of PITA.

2.

Learned counsel for the Applicant submits that there are material inconsistencies in the statement of the the victim 1/3

girl recorded by the police and before the Magistrate under Section 162 of Cr.P.C. He drew the attention of this Court to those statements and according to her indicate that it is difficult to accept the involvement of the Applicant in this crime. She further submits that the co-accused against whom the similar allegations are made is enlarged on bail and as such after the conclusion of investigation and filing of chargesheet, there is no propriety in keeping the Applicant behind the bar. 3.

Learned APP opposed the Application by drawing attention of the Court to the fact that the victim is minor and her statement recorded before the police clearly indicate the implication of the present Applicant in this crime. 4.

Learned counsel for Respondent No.2 recorded no objection for grant of bail.

5.

Recording no objection on behalf of minor is irrelevant for the decision of the application. The Court will have to see as to whether any case is made out on merit by the Applicant for grant of bail. Prima-facie perusal of the record indicates that there is substance in the contention of the learned 2/3

counsel for the Applicant that material inconsistencies have occurred in the statement of the victim recorded by the police and before the Magistrate. Those discrepancies are not of minor nature in order to discard the same. In the light of the material evidence on record and when Applicant has no criminal history, there is no propriety in keeping the Applicant behind the bar as the trial is not likely to get over within the reasonable time. Hence the following order :

O R D E R :

a).

The Application stands allowed in connection with with Crime No.508 of 2025, registered with Koparkhairne Police Station.

b).

The Applicant be enlarged on bail on furnishing PR bond of Rs. 30,000/- with one or two local sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Trial Court. c).

The Applicant is directed to attend all dates of hearing before the Trial Court unless exempted.

(R.M. JOSHI, J.) 3/3