Shushant Baba Lagad v. The State Of Maharashtra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.848 OF 2025 ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Shushant Baba Lagad ...Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra & Anr.
...Respondents
ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date: 2026.02.10 21:57:33 +0530 Mr. Pranav Bhoite i/b Devidas Jadhav, for the Applicant. Ms. R. V. Newton, APP, for the Respondent-State. Ms. Kanchan Pawar, appointed for Respondent No.2.
CORAM:
MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.
DATED:
10 FEBRUARY 2026 PC:- 1.
Heard Mr. Bhoite, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant, Ms. Newton, learned APP for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra and Ms. Pawar, learned Counsel appointed to represent the interest of Respondent No.2.
2.
By the present Anticipatory Bail Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.1099 of 2024 registered on 5th November 2024 with the Yavat Police Station, Pune Rural, for the offences punishable under Sections 74,
75, 119(1), 115(2), 352, 351(2), 351(3) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
3.
It is the submission of Mr. Bhoite, learned Counsel for the Applicant that the Applicant is not involved in the crime. In fact, the First Informant is the cousin sister of the present Applicant. He submits that there are disputes between these families and there are cross FIRs being CR No.1100 of 2024 and CR No.1102 of 2024 registered on 6th November 2024 with the Yavat Police Station, Pune Rural. He submits that the subject FIR is a false FIR. He further submits that the Charge-sheet is already filed and that there are no other antecedents against the Applicant. 4.
On the other hand, Ms. Newton, learned APP for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra and Ms. Pawar, learned Counsel appointed to represent the interest of Respondent No.2, submit that the offence is very serious where the Applicant has outraged the modesty of a woman and, therefore, the Anticipatory Bail Application be dismissed.
5.
Perusal of the record shows that there are cross FIRs being CR No.1100 of 2024 and CR No.1102 of 2024. The Charge-sheet has already been filed.
6.
A learned Single Judge has already protected the Applicant by the Order dated 27th March 2025. The said protection continues till date. There is nothing on record to indicate that the said protection has been misused. There are no other antecedents. 7.
Accordingly, case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of by passing the following Order:
O R D E R
(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant - Shushant Baba Lagad, in connection with CR No.1099 of 2024 registered with the Yavat Police Station, Pune Rural, he be released on bail on his furnishing PR Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.
(b) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police
Station as and when necessary and shall cooperate with the investigation.
(c) The Applicant shall furnish his cell phone number and residential address to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated, in case of any change thereto.
(d) The Applicant 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 Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant or any witness in any manner.
(f) The Applicant shall not leave India without prior permission of the learned Trial Court/Sessions Court. 8.
The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of accordingly. 9.
This Court places on record its appreciation for the
assistance rendered by Ms. Kanchan Pawar, learned Counsel appointed to represent the interest of Respondent No.2. The High Court Legal Services Committee, Mumbai is requested to pay her professional charges as per the rules.
[MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]