Somnath Navnath Pawar v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 4277 OF 2025 Somnath Navnath Pawar ...Applicant

VERSUS

State Of Maharashtra And Anr.

...Respondents

_________________________________________________________________ Mr. Vaibhav Chandanshive, Advocate for Applicant. Mr. Kranti T. Hiwrale, APP for Respondent-State. Ms. Gauri Kulkarni, Advocate for Respondent No.2. Mr. Gorakh Punekar, Daund Police Station present. _________________________________________________________________

CORAM

: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 24th MARCH, 2026.

P.C. :

1.

Heard learned counsel for the Applicant and learned APP for the State.

2.

By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.613 of 2024 registered with Daund Police Station, Dist. Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (B.N.S.), 2023 and u/s. 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012.

3.

It is prosecution's case that on 22/08/2024 around 3 p.m. Applicant outraged the modesty of minor daughter of the first informant. 4.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that Applicant is behind bars for more than 1 year and 7 months. The

maximum sentence provided for the offencess is five years. There is no progress in the trial and requested to allow the application. 5.

It is contention of learned APP along with Respondent No.2 that Applicant outraged the modesty of minor of the first informant. The Applicant's family members are threatening the first informant and victim. If Applicant is released on bail, he may abscond or threaten the first informant and victim and requested to reject the application. 6.

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

7.

Applicant is behind bar for more than one year and 7 months. There is no progress in the trial. The maximum sentence provided for for the offence is five years. It may take time to conclude the trial. 8.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant- Somnath Navnath Pawar be released on bail in Crime No.613 of 2024 registered with Daund Police Station, Dist. Pune, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- 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) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when required.

(v) The Applicant shall not contact the victim and his family members.

(vi) Bail Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)