Nilesh Prakash Lokhande v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR.
1 12-ABA 13-25.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.13 OF 2025 Nilesh Prakash Lokhande ... Applicant V/s.
The State of Maharashtra & Anr.
... Respondents ----- Mr. Vipul Dada Patil i/by Prathamesh Salve for the Applicant. Mr. Pandurang H. Gaikwad, APP for Respondent No.1-State. Mr. Anay Sanjay Joshi i/by Saili Dhuru for Respondent No.2. IO Sunil Shinde, Parksite Police Station is present. ----- Digitally signed by MUGDHA MANOJ PARANJAPE Date:
2025.09.16 19:00:59 +0530 CORAM :
N.R. BORKAR, J.
DATE :
15TH SEPTEMBER 2025 P.C. :
MUGDHA MANOJ PARANJAPE 1.
This is an application for anticipatory bail. The Applicant is apprehending arrest in Crime No. 923 of 2024 registered at Parksite Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 74, 75, 115, 351(2), 352, 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 4, 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. 2.
I have heard Learned Counsel for the Applicant, Learned APP for Respondent No.1-State and Learned Counsel for Respondent No.2. 3.
Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant and the victim were in a love relationship and wanted to marry. It is submitted that as the family members of the victim were against the said relationship, at their instance, the victim has lodged a false report against
2 12-ABA 13-25.doc the present Applicant. It is submitted that there is no need of custodial interrogation and the Applicant is ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation.
4.
On the other hand Learned APP for Respondent No.1-State and Learned Counsel for Respondent No.2-victim submit that at the relevant time the victim was a minor. It is submitted that considering the nature of crime, the Applicant may not be released on bail. 5.
I have perused the First Information Report dated 01st December 2024. It appears that the applicant and the victim were in love relationship. The victim has disclosed about the alleged physical relationship for the first time in her supplementary statement recorded on 6th December 2025. It appears that at the relevant time the victim was about 18 years old. It is not the case of the prosecution that the applicant has refused to marry her.
6.
Learned APP on instructions submits that the investigation is almost over.
7.
Considering the overall facts and circumstances, I am inclined to release the Applicant on anticipatory bail. Hence, the following order is passed:
ORDER
i.
The Application is allowed.
3 12-ABA 13-25.doc ii.
In the event of the arrest of the Applicant in Crime No. 923 of 2024 registered at Parksite Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 74, 75, 115, 351(2), 352, 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 4, 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, he shall be released on bail on furnishing a PR Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only) with one or two sureties in the like amount.
iii. The Applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when called for by the investigating officer and shall cooperative in the investigation. iv.
The Applicant shall not contact the victim.
7.
The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of in the aforesaid terms.
(N.R. BORKAR, J.)