Sanjay Arjun Zhendge And ANR v. State Of Maharashtra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 4498OF 2025 Sanjay Arjun Zhendge and Anr.
... Applicants Vs.
The State of Maharashtra ... Respondent VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM by VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM Date:
2026.02.27 10:46:47 +0530 _________________________________________________________________ Mr. Aniket Nikam a/w. Luv Suchak & Abhilasha Pawar, Advocate for Applicants.
Mr. M.G. Patil, APP for Respondent-State.
Mr. Priyal Sarda a/w. Mr. Shubham Sane, Advocate for Respondent No.2. _________________________________________________________________
CORAM
: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.
DATE : 24th FEBRUARY, 2026.
P.C. :
1.
Heard learned counsel for the Applicants, learned APP for the State and learned counsel for Respondent No.2. 2.
By this Application, the Applicants are seeking regular bail in Crime No. 374/2025 dated 10/08/2025 registered with Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station, District Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 108,85, 115(2), 352, 351(2), 351(3) r/w. 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
3.
It is prosecution's case that Applicant No.1 is father in law of deceased and Applicant No.2 is brother in law of deceased. Applicant and co-accused mentally and physically harassed the deceased. Due to
continuous harassment, she committed suicide. 4.
It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicants that at the time of incident, Applicants were not staying with the deceased. She was staying with her husband. The co-accused - mother in law, having similar allegation, has been released on bail by Sessions Court. Hence Applicant is entitled for bail on principle of parity and requested to allow the Application.
5.
It is contention of learned APP and learned counsel for Respondent No.2 that Applicants and co-accused were harassing the deceased continuously and hence she had lodged complaint against them. Thereafter, the said complaint was withdrawn after settlement between both the parties. After settlement also, Applicants and co-accused continuously harassed mentally and physically to the deceased. Due to said harassment, she committed suicide. The mobile phone of Applicant No.2 shows that he was in continuous contact with the Accused No.1 i.e. husband of the deceased. There are specific allegations against the Applicants. They submit that if Applicants released on bail, they may abscond or threaten the prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the Application.
6.
I have heard all learned counsel. Perused charge-sheet and documents produced on record.
7.
It appears from that that at the time of incident, Applicants were not staying with the deceased. The co-accused, having similar allegations, has been released on bail. To prove the allegations against the Applicants, evidence is required. Applicants are behind bars more than six months. There is no progress in trial.
8.
Considering these facts, I pass following order.
ORDER
(i) Applicant No.1 - Sanjay Arjun Zhendge and Applicant No.2Vinayak Sanjay Zhendge be released on bail in Crime No. 374/2025 dated 10/08/2025 registered with Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station, District Pune, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- each 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) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)