Bhausaheb Bhanudas Kopnar And ANR v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.357 OF 2025 ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR

1. Bhausaheb Bhanudas Kopnar

2. Swaraj Balasaheb Kopnar ...Applicants ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date: 2026.02.24 21:29:48 +0530

Versus

The State of Maharashtra & Anr.

...Respondents

Mr. Nitin Gaware Patil, for the Applicants.

Ms. S. M. Yadav, APP, for the Respondent-State. P.S.I. Punekar, Daund Police Station, Pune Rural, present.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED:

24 FEBRUARY 2026 PC:- 1.

Heard Mr. Gaware Patil, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants and Ms. Yadav, learned APP for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra.

2.

By the present Anticipatory Bail Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicants are seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.539 of 2024 registered with the Daund Police Station, Pune Rural, for the offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 118(2), 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 351(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3.

The prosecution case is set out in Paragraph No.3 of the Order dated 11th October 2024 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Baramati, in Criminal Bail Application No.1088 of 2024, which reads as under:- "3) The case of the prosecution is that, on 20.07.2024 at about 10.00 a.m. Sagar Narsing Gophane and his friend Ramesh Shamrao Fasage had went at Lonarwadi with JCB Machine to prepare a road in the field of Dr. Nale. At that time Sagar Gophane had received threatening phone call of Bhau Kopnar r/o Malthan that '

येथेजेसीबीमशि नचेकामकरायचेनाहीत्या कामाचीठेकेदारीमीघेतलेलीआहे.

जरतूकामबंदकेलेनाहीतर तुलासोडणारनाही.' Therefore Sagar Gophane had replied '

मीकामबंदकरणारनाहीत्याकामाचाठेकेदारमीआहे.'

Thereafter at about 7.00 p.m. Bhau Kopnar, Swaraj Kopnar and son of Bhau Kopnar along with their 4-5 accomplices had came at Lonarwadi and beaten him with fist and kick blows. The quarrel was intervened by Baban Walunjkar, his wife and 2-3 villagers of Lonarwadi. Thereafter at about 11.30 p.m. Sagar Gophane has went at the residence of Bhau Kopnar to enquire him. At that time Bhau Kopnar had beaten him with iron rod on his right thigh. Swaraj Kopnar has tried to inflicted sickle blow but he had snatched the sickle due to which received left palm injury. Thereafter Ramesh Phasage had carried him at Medicare hospital. After taking X-ray Doctor has opined thigh fracture injury. Sagar Gophane has given statement in the hospital before police about the incident. On the basis of his report, CR No.539/2024 came to be registered."

4.

Ms. Yadav, learned APP for the Respondent-State, strongly opposes the Anticipatory Bail Application.

5.

A learned Single Judge has already granted interim protection to the Applicants by Order dated 12th February 2025 and the said protection has continued till date. There is nothing on record to indicate that the said protection has been misused. 6.

This is a case of cross-FIR. As the Charge-sheet has already been filed, investigation is completed.

7.

Accordingly, the case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. In view thereof, the following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant No.1 - Bhausaheb Bhanudas Kopnar and Applicant No.2 - Swaraj Balasaheb Kopnar, in connection with CR No.539 of 2025 registered with the Daund Police Station, Pune Rural, they be released on bail on their furnishing PR Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- each with one or two solvent sureties each in the like amount.

(b) The Applicants shall attend the concerned Police

Station as and when necessary and shall cooperate with the investigation.

(c) The Applicants shall furnish their cell phone numbers and residential addresses to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated, in case of any change thereto.

(d) The Applicants shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade such a person from disclosing the facts to the Court or to any Police personnel.

(e) The Applicants shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant or any witness in any manner.

8.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of accordingly. [MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]