Jayeshkumar S/O Narayanbhai Patel And Others v. The State Of Maharashtra Thr Maregaon Ps, Tq Maregaon, Dist Yavatmal

2026:BHC-NAG:349 50 aba719.25.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.

CRIMINAL APPLICATION (ABA) NO.719 OF 2025 Jayeshkumar s/o Narayanbhai Patel and others Vs. State of Maharashtra __________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders.

and Registrar's Orders.

Shri A.S. Deshpande, Advocate for applicants. Ms H.N. Prabhu, AGP / APP for non-applicant/State. CORAM : M.W. CHANDWANI, J.

DATE : 08.01.2026.

1.

Apprehending arrest in connection with Crime No.182/2025 registered with Police Station, Maregaon, District Yavatmal for the offences punishable under Sections 7, 8, 15(1), 15(2), 16(1) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the Seeds Rules, 1968 and Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the present application for anticipatory bail has been filed.

2.

Heard the learned counsel for the applicants as well as the learned APP for the State.

3.

Having gone through the case diary, it appears that a raid was conducted and the bogus/without licence cotton seeds were in the field. Applicant no.1 is the Manager, applicant nos.2 and 3 are the partners and applicant no.4 is the employee of Dev Seeds Company, who work as organizers between companies and the farmers. It was revealed that those cotton seeds are banned and therefore,

50 aba719.25.odt the aforesaid offence came to be registered.

4.

The raid is already conducted. The contraband seeds are already seized. It appears that the applicants were protected by the ad interim order dated 22.09.2025 and were directed to appear before the investigating officer. Accordingly, they appeared and cooperated with the investigation. It appears that most part of the investigation has already been completed. Considering the stage of investigation, the custodial interrogation of the applicants is not required.

5.

Considering the aforesaid aspects, I do not find any force in the argument of the learned APP that the application for anticipatory bail deserves to be rejected. 6.

Considering the fact that the applicants have cooperated with the investigation, a case is made out for anticipatory bail. Hence, the interim protection dated 22.09.2025 is hereby confirmed.

7.

Since, most part of the investigation has already been completed, the applicants need not attend the concerned police station in the present crime. However, they shall attend the police station as and when directed by the investigating officer.

8.

With this, the application stands disposed of. (M.W. Chandwani, J.) Wagh