Vyankat Rangnath Thorat v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 4691 OF 2025 Vyankat Rangnath Thorat ... Applicant

Versus

State Of Maharashtra ... Respondent ________________________________________________________ by NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE Date:

2026.02.06 11:04:04 +0530 NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE Mr.Arman Ansari a/w Mr.Sanjeev B. Deore, Mr.Sachin Pagare i/b Ms.Suchita J. Pawar, for the Applicant.

Mr.B.B. Kulkarni, APP for Respondent-State.

Mr.V.S. Kothawale, PSI, Vavi Police Station, Nashik Gramin. ________________________________________________________ CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 4th FEBRUARY 2026 P.C. :

.

By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.366 of 2024 registered with Vavi Police Station, Nashik, for the offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 118(2), 118(1 352 and 3(5) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ('BNS' for short). 2.

It is prosecution's case that on 31st August 2024, at around 3.30 a.m., the Applicant and co-accused assaulted the First Informant and his friend. In the said assault, friend of the First Informant died.

It is alleged that the Applicant is the husband of the First Informant and First Informant had illicit relations with the deceased. 3.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that the co-accused who have similar allegations like the Applicant have been released on bail. Hence, the Applicant is entitled for bail on principle of parity and requested to allow the Application. 4.

It is contention of learned APP that the Applicant is main culprit. The First Informant is wife of the Applicant. She had illicit relations with the deceased. On that ground, the Applicant murdered the deceased. The Applicant had strong motive to kill the deceased, parity will not be applicable to the Applicant. If the Applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten First Informant and prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the Application. 5.

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

6.

The Applicant is behind bars for more than one year and four months. There is no progress in trial. The co-accused having similar allegations have been released on bail. Hence, the Applicant is entitled for bail on principle of parity.

7.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant-Vyankat Rangnath Thorat be released on bail in Crime No.366 of 2024 registered with Vavi Police Station, Nashik, 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) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)