Steven Alex Negal And ANR v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.1030 OF 2025 Steven Alex Negal & Anr.

...Applicants

Versus

The State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

Digitally signed by SONALI MILIND PATIL Date:

2026.01.29 18:31:52 +0530 SONALI MILIND PATIL Mr. Vedant Babar i/b. Mr. Rahul Kadam, for the Applicants. Ms. G. A. Mulekar, APP, for the Respondent-State. Mr. Auchere, PSI, attached to Wanvadi Police Station, Pune City, Pune, present.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED :

29th JANUARY 2026 PC:- 1.

Heard Mr. Babar, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants and Ms. Mulekar, learned APP appearing for the Respondent-State.

2.

This application is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with C.R. No.100 of 2025 registered with Wanwadi Police Station, Pune City, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 108 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3.

As per the prosecution case, the deceased died by suicide as the Applicant and the co-accused were harassing him for refund of certain amount taken as loan along with interest. The F.I.R. records that on 21st February 2025 at 07:15 p.m. the Applicants and the coaccused abused and assaulted the deceased and thereafter, immediately he died by suicide.

4.

It is the submission of Mr. Babar, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants that a learned Single Judge by order dated 17th April 2025 has protected the Applicants. He submits that the Applicants have co-operated with the investigation. He submits that in any case, the Applicants have no mens rea to commit the crime and therefore, the pre-arrest bail be granted to the Applicants.

5.

On the other hand, Ms. Mulekar, learned APP submits that the incident of death by suicide of the deceased took place immediately after the deceased has been assaulted and abused by the Applicants and co-accused. She therefore, submits that as there is proximity of time between the incident in question and cause,

the Applicants are involved in the crime and therefore, the custodial interrogation of the Applicants is necessary. 6.

Perusal of the record shows that although the deceased died by suicide immediately after the incident of assault and abuse which has taken place on 24th February 2025 at 07:15 p.m. on the ground that the deceased had not refunded the loan amount as also interest, however, it cannot be said that the Applicants has mens rea to commit the crime. Although there is one antecedent, the same is of the year 2005.

7.

A learned Single Judge has already protected the Applicants by order dated 17th April 2025. The said protection continues till date. There is nothing on record to show that the Applicants have misused the said protection.

8.

Accordingly, the case is made out for grant of Anticipatory Bail by imposing certain conditions. In view thereof, the following order is passed:

O R D E R

(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant No.1- Steven

Alex Negal and the Applicant No.2-Vijay Dilip Ingale in connection with C.R. No.100 of 2025 registered with the Wanwadi Police Station, Pune City, Pune, the Applicants are directed to be released on bail on their furnishing P.R. 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 Wanwadi Police Station, Pune City, Pune, on 4th February 2026 and 5th February 2026 between 11:00 a.m. to 02:00 p.m. and thereafter, the Applicant shall attend the Wanwadi Police Station, Pune City, Pune, as and when called by the Investigating Officer and co-operate with the investigation.

(c) The Applicant shall furnish their cell phone number and residential address 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.

(f) The Applicants shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court.

9.

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