Shilpi Dutta Kumar v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

(906) ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.695 OF 2025 Shilpi Dutta Kumar ...Applicant

Versus

State Of Maharashtra

...Respondent

(911) ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.700 OF 2025 Vinod Kumar ...Applicant Vs State Of Assam And Anr

...Respondents

____________________________________ Mr. Niranjan Bhavake a/w. Drishti Madhani a/w. Swamini Thakur a/w. Anurag Ramekar i/b. Bhavake & Associates Advocates, Advocate for the Applicant.

Mr. Anand S. Shalgaonkar, APP in ABA/695/2025. Ms. Pallavi N. Dabholkar, APP in ABA/700/2025. Mr. Ravindra Jagtap, PSI Kurar Police Station present. ____________________________________

CORAM

: RAJESH S. PATIL, J.

DATED : 12 MARCH 2025 P.C.:

1.

These anticipatory bail applications have been filed by Shilpi Dutta Kumar in Anticipatory Bail Application No. 695 of 2025 and by Vinod Kumar in Anticipatory Bail Application No. 700 of 2025. The applicants are husband and wife.

2.

Mr. Bhave, the learned Advocate for the applicants, submits that

these applications are for transit bail, as the applicants have received a notice under Section 35(3) of the BNSS Act, 2023 from Basistha Police Station, Guwahati (E), Assam. He states that Shilpi Dutta Kumar is a director of Skyhawk Helisolutions Private Limited, while Vinod Kumar is a director of Fasttrack Tieup Private Limited. 3.

He further submits that although an FIR has been lodged against the applicants at Guwahati (E), Assam, a copy of the FIR has not been served on them. Only a notice under Section 35(3) of the BNSS Act has been issued and served. The applicants are willing to cooperate, as the dispute is between the directors of both companies, with the informant being the managing director of Fasttrack Tieup Private Limited. 4.

The learned Advocate contends that the applicants were unable to attend the office of the Investigating Officer at Guwahati (E), Assam, due to the lack of protection. However, they are prepared to attend if appropriate protection is granted. He also submits that Vinod Kumar, who recently lost his mother on 1 March 2025, is willing to cooperate with the investigation and will file a proper application before the appropriate court in Assam.

5.

The learned APP submits that the presence of the complainant is necessary in this matter.

6.

I have heard the learned advocate for parties, the matter pertains only to transit bail. Prima facie, after going though the documents

which are on record. It appears that the dispute is between two directions regarding certain parts of a helicopter. I have been informed that the said helicopter is currently stationed in Delhi. The applicants are residents of Mumbai, while the informant appears to be a resident of Guwahati, Assam. At this stage, Suffice would be the purpose if the applicants are directed to attend the office of the Investigating Officer at Basistha Police Station, Guwahati (E), Assam with certain protection protection granted to them.

ORDER

(i) The applicants are directed to attend the office of the Basistha Police Station, Guwahati (E), Assam on 20 March 2025 and 21 March 2025 between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m and thereafter as and when called.

(ii) For a period of two weeks, no coercive steps, (including that of arrest of the applicants), be taken against Applicants. The applicants are at liberty to file any application they desire before the appropriate court in Assam.

(iii) The Applicants shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with facts of case so as to dissuade him from disclosing the facts to Court or any Police Officer and should not tamper with evidence.

(iv) The Applicants shall furnish his contact number and residential address to the investigating officer and shall keep him updated, in case there is any change.

(v) The applicants shall also refrain from contacting the informant, their family members, or the victim's relatives in any form or manner, including through online messages, for a period of two weeks or until further orders are passed by the appropriate court in Assam. 7.

In view of the above, the present Anticipatory Bail Applications are disposed of.

(RAJESH S. PATIL, J.)