Dhiraj Jethanand Valecha v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 4555 OF 2025 Mr. Dhiraj Jethanand Valecha ... Applicant

Versus

State Of Maharashtra And Anr ... Respondents _________________________________________________________________ Mr. Amit Singh a/w Mr. Gaurav Kalekar a/w Mr. Sail Khatavkar, Advocate for the Applicant.

Smt. R. D. Humane, APP for Respondent No.1-State. Mr. Santosh Jadhav, API, Lonavala Police Station. _________________________________________________________________

CORAM

: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 18th MARCH 2026 P.C. :

.

By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.505 of 2024 registered with Lonavala City Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 351(2), 351(3) and 70(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ('BNS' for short). 2.

It is prosecution's case that the Applicant and co-accused sexually assaulted the First Informant on several occasions by threatening her that he viral the video of sexual act.

3.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that the Applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. There is delay in lodging the FIR. The Applicant had raised voice against the illegal dance bar, the

First Informant work's in dance bar on that ground, the Applicant has falsely implicated in this case.

4.

It is contention of learned APP along with learned counsel for Respondent No.2 that the Applicant has sexually assaulted the victim on various occasions by threatening her. The Applicant has two antecedents. If the Applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten victim and prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the Application. 5.

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

6.

It appears from record that there is two years delay in lodging the FIR. The Applicant is behind bars for more than eleven months. Investigation is completed and charge-sheet has been filed. It may take time to conclude the trial.

7.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant be released on bail in Crime No.505 of 2024 registered with Lonavala City Police Station, Pune, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant shall not contact the First Informant.

(iii) The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and/or influence the prosecution witnesses.

(iv) The Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.

(v) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when required.

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