Sandip Tukaram Choure v. State Of Maharashtra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 391 OF 2025 Sandip T. Choure ...Applicant V/s.
The State of Maharashtra
...Respondent.
..............
Mr. Sanjeev Kadam, Sr. Advocate a/w. Ms Varsha Thorat and Mr.Suraj S. Mhadgut i/b Mr. Sachin R. Pawar for the Applicant. Mr. Tanveer Khan, APP for the Respondent/State. DY.S.P. Dadaram Karande, ACB Palghar is present. ..............
CORAM
:
N.R. BORKAR, J.
DATE :
17.09.2025.
P.C. :
1.
This is an application for anticipatory bail. 2.
The applicant is apprehending his arrest in Crime No. 328 of 2024 registered at Mandvi Police Station, Mira-Bhayander for the offences punishable under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
3.
It is the prosecution case that on 06.11.2024, the applicant who was working as Range Forest Officer, Mandvi, had demanded bribe amount of Rs.20 lakhs from the complainant for submitting a favourable report to his superiors in respect of dispute which was going between the complainant and forest department in respect of land owned by him.
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4.
I have heard the learned senior advocate appearing for the applicant and the learned APP for the respondent / State. 5.
On 11th February 2025, this Court had passed the following order.
"1.
After arguing for some time, Mr. Kadam, learned senior counsel for the Applicant tenders the compilation of documents which included the affidavits of Kishor Raut, Ishwar Raut, Kamlakar Jogdand, Santosh Kanthale, Anil Khande and Baban Jogdand and other few documents. Mr. Kadam, on instructions, submits that the Applicant is ready to co-operate and if the Investigating Officer required certain more documents and the Apple Id Password, the Applicant is ready to give all details as sought by the Investigating Officer.
2.
In view of the above statement, the Applicant is directed to attend the Investigating Officer, Mandvi Police Station on 12th February, 2025, 13th February, 2025 and 14th February, 2025 in morning at 11.00am to 1.00pm. The Applicant will co-operate with the Investigating Officer and will submit all the documents which the Investigating Officer needs and is available with him. So also, the Applicant be provided the Apple Id Password of his I- phone. 3.
Stand over to 25th February, 2025. In the meanwhile, no coercive steps be taken against the Applicant." 6.
Learned senior advocate for the applicant submits that pursuant to the above order, the applicant has provided all the documents as sought by the investigating officer. It is submitted that even voice sample of the applicant came to be recorded. 7.
Learned APP, on instructions, submits that the investigation is over.
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8.
Considering the fact that investigation is over, I am inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail. In the result the following order is passed.
ORDER
A) The Application is allowed.
B) In the event of arrest of the applicant in C.R. No. 328 of 2024 registered at Mandvi Police Station, Mira-Bhayander for the offences punishable under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, he be released on bail on executing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one surety or two sureties in the like amount.
C) The applicant shall attend the office of ACB, Palghar as and when called by the Investigating Officer. [N.R.BORKAR, J.] 3/3