Majid Ahmad Mohammad Siddiquie And ANR v. State Of Maharashtra

Digitally signed by LAXMIKANT GOPAL CHANDAN Date:

2026.05.01 14:02:02 +0530 LAXMIKANT GOPAL CHANDAN lgc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.4523 OF 2025 Majid Ahmad Mohammad Siddique And ors.

: Applicants.

Versus.

The State of Maharashtra : Respondents.

----- Mr. Mahendra N Sandhyanshiv i/by Adv. Vikas Mourya for the Applicants.

Mr. Shishir Hiray, Special PP a/w Mrs. Rajeshree Newton, APP for the Respondent/State.

------- CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.

DATED : 30 APRIL 2026 PC:- 1.

This Criminal Bail Application No.4523 of 2025 is listed at Sr. No.901 on today's supplementary board along with Bail Application Nos. 4930/2025, 3994/2025, 4003/2025, 4449/2025, 4522/2025, 4724/2025 and 4721/2025. At the request of the learned Advocates for the parties, Criminal Bail Application No.4523 of 2025 is de-tagged from Bail Application Nos. 4930/2025, 3994/2025, 4003/2025 4449/2025, 4522/2025, 4724/2025 and 4721/2025, and is taken up for hearing.

2.

Heard Mr. Mahendra Sandhanshiv, learned Advocate for the Applicants and Mr. Shishir Hiray, learned Special PP for Respondent/State.

3.

Applicants, by this Application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 are before this Court seeking Regular Bail in FIR No. 51 of 2025 registered with Chhavani Police Station, Malegaon City, District Nashik, for offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) and 338 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, as well as Sections 8 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (the "FIR"). The said crime is registered as Special Case No. 100 of 2025 and is pending before the Additional Sessions Judge, Malegaon, District Nashik.

4.

There are 21 Accused in the said FIR. The Applicants herein are Accused Nos. 10, 3 and 1, respectively. 5.

The Applicants were arrested on 16 February 2025 and have been in jail since then. The Bail Applications at Exhibits 8, 20 and 24 filed by the Applicants in Special Case No.100 of 2025, were rejected by the Additional Sessions Judge on 8th October 2025.

6.

Mr Mahendra Sandhyanshiv, learned Advocate for the Applicants, submits that the allegations against the Applicants in the present Applications relate to their being beneficiaries of certificates alleged to be fabricated and forged. He submits

that the accused Khalid Akhtar Mohammed Yusuf (Accused No.11 in the present crime), who is said to be instrumental in forging the documents by acting as an agent has been granted ad-interim Anticipatory bail by this Court in ABA No.1252 of 2025 by order dated 25 May 2025. He submits that the said Accused No.11 is also an Accused in FIR bearing No.40 of 2025, which pertains to a similar offence and has been granted anticipatory bail by the Hon'ble Supreme Court by its order dated 09 July 2025, passed in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No.4952 of 2025. He places reliance on the said two orders.

7.

Mr Shishir Hiray, learned Special PP for the Respondent/State, submits that though the Applicants herein are beneficiaries of the certificates, which were prepared by Accused No.11, the Applicants are involved in a larger conspiracy. He submits that the Applicants being involved in forging the documents cannot be ruled out. He, however, fairly submits that, since Accused No.11 was released on bail by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in FIR No.40 of 2025 and also on ad-interim anticipatory bail by this Court in FIR No.51 of 2025, the principle of parity can be applied to the case of the Applicants herein.

8.

Mr. Mahendra Sandhyanshiv, learned Advocate for the Applicants, states that the Applicants do not have any criminal antecedents. To clarify, he states that there are three other crimes registered for the same offence. Mr. Shishir Hiray,

learned Special PP, for the Respondent/State, does not contest the said statement made by Mr. Mahendra Sandhanshiv, learned Advocate for the Applicant.

9.

Heard arguments. Perused the record.

10.

Khalid Akhtar Mohammed Yusuf (Accused No.11), who is involved in forging the documents by acting as an agent, has been released on bail in the present crime. The role assigned to the Applicants in this Application is that of beneficiaries of the documents forged by Khalid Akhtar Mohammed Yusuf. Applicants have been in jail for more than a year. The charge in Special Case No.100 of 2025 has not yet been framed. In such circumstances, Mr. Mahendra Sandhyanshiv would be justified in seeking bail. 11.

Mr. Shishir Hiray submits that strict conditions may be imposed, including a condition that the Applicants should not enter Malegaon City or Malegaon Tahsil until the conclusion of the trial in Special Case No.100 of 2025.

12.

Mr. Mahendra Sandhyanshiv, on instructions from the Applicants, states that till the conclusion of trial in Special Case No.100 of 2025, the Applicants shall not enter the jurisdiction of Malegaon City/Malegaon Tahsil. Statement accepted.

13.

In view of the above, the present Bail Application is allowed on the following conditions:-

A] Each of the Applicants are directed to be released on bail in connection with FIR No. 51 of 2025 registered with Chhavani Police Station, Malegaon City, District Nashik, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 340(2), 61(2), and 338 r/w Section 3(5) of the BNS, 2023, and under Sections 8 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, each of the Applicants on executing a P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rupees Two lakhs Only) with one or two local sureties of like amount to the satisfaction of the Additional Sessions Judge, Malegaon, District Nashik.

B] Applicants shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person/sacquainted with facts of the accusation, to dissuade such person from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.

C] Applicants shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses and evidence in any manner.

D] Applicants, upon their release, shall, within three days, furnish their cell phone number, contact details, and residential address with proof to the Investigating Officer at Chhavani Police Station, Malegaon City, District Nashik and shall keep this information updated in case of any changes.

E] Applicants shall surrender their passports, if any, to the Investigating Officer at Chhavani Police Station, Malegaon City, District Nashik, within three days of their release.

F] Applicants shall report to the Investigating Officer of Chhavani Police Station, Malegaon, District Nashik, on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm, commencing from the Month of May 2026 till further orders from the Additional Sessions Judge, Malegaon, District Nashik.

G] Applicants shall not enter the territorial jurisdiction of Malegaon City/Malegaon Tahsil till the conclusion of trial in Special Case No.100 of 2025, except for reporting to the Investigating Officer and/or attending the day-to-day hearings in Special Case No.100 of 2025.

H] Applicants shall attend each hearing date in Special Case No.100 of 2025 regularly, unless exempted. 14.

The Criminal Bail Application No. 4523 of 2025 is disposed of.

(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)