Satish Namdev Jagtap v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1278 OF 2025 Satish Namdev Jagtap ... Applicant

Versus

State of Maharashtra ... Respondent *** Mr. Anand S. Patil a/w Adv. Soham V. Powar and Adv. Pratik Bhakare for the Applicant.

Mr. S. H. Yadav, A.P. P. for Respondent-State. Mr. Sachin Chandan, Rajarampuri Police Station. ***

CORAM

: M.W. CHANDWANI, J.

DATE : 15th April, 2026.

P. C. :

1.

Heard the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Applicant and the learned APP for the Non Applicant-State. I have perused the case diary. 2.

The Applicant is seeking anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No. 157 of 2025, registered with Rajarampuri Police Station, District Kolhapur for offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2), 238, 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3.

It appears that the Informant/Complainant, who is engaged in the business of polishing of silver ornaments under the name "Universal Silver,"

and is also connected with "Dhanlaxmi Silver," which is a proprietorship of one Kamlesh Rathod, became acquainted with one Dhananjay Deelip Patil of village Rendal. The Complainant received a message from Kamlesh Rathod for preparing and supplying silver ornaments to accused Dhananjay Patil, in exchange for silver of equal weight along with labour charges of Rs. 14,606/-.

4.

It is alleged that the Complainant supplied pure silver weighing 13.69 kg. Although, the Complainant received Rs. 14,606/- towards labour charges, the silver received in exchange in the form of biscuits was found to have a purity of only 20% instead of the expected 100%. Consequently, the aforesaid offence came to be registered against the co-accused. 5.

It further appears from the case diary that during investigation, it was revealed that the present Applicant had prepared the silver biscuits having 20% purity. Accordingly, his name surfaced in the crime through the coaccused. 6.

The contention of the Applicant is that he had no knowledge of the transaction between the Complainant and the co-accused. According to him, he is engaged in the business of preparing silver ornaments and biscuits, and he merely supplied the biscuits as per the order placed by the co-accused. He claims that he is not involved in the alleged offence and that nothing is required to be seized from him.

7.

Learned APP for the Non Applicant-State opposed the application on the ground that artisans engaged in the manufacture of silver ornaments are required to be registered with the association of silver ornament manufacturers, and the Applicant does not possess such registration. 8.

Perusal of the case diary further reveals that co-accused Dhananjay Patil and one Sachin Sadale supplied impure silver to the Complainant in exchange for pure silver ornaments by providing biscuits having a purity of 20% instead of 100%. The said biscuits were prepared by the present Applicant at the instance of the co-accused. Although the Applicant is not registered with the association of silver ornament manufacturers, he possesses a licence which has been produced along with the application relating to VAT tax.

9.

Prima facie, it appears that the Applicant acted at the behest of the coaccused. Whether the Applicant shared common intention with the other coaccused to cheat the Complainant is a matter of trial. The other co-accused have already been arrested, there is no direct connection of the present Applicant with the silver ornaments taken by the co-accused, and therefore, nothing is required to be seized from the Applicant. 10.

The Applicant was protected by way of ad-interim relief, and the State directed not to take any coercive action against him. The Applicant was also directed to appear before the concerned police station and cooperate with the

investigation. Accordingly, he has appeared and cooperated. 11.

In view of the above, a case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. Hence, the following order is passed:

ORDER

a) Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed.

b) In the event of arrest in connection with Crime No. 157 of 2025, registered with Rajarampuri Police Station, Dist-Kolhapur for the offences punishable under Section 318(4), 316(2), 238, 61(2), 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Applicant-Satish Namdev Jagtap be released on bail upon furnishing a P.R. bond of Rs. 50,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount. c) The Applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when directed.

d) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence or threaten prosecution witnesses and shall cooperate in the investigation.

[ M.W. CHANDWANI, J. ] Digitally signed by TALLE SHUBHAM ASHOKRAO Date:

2026.04.16 14:40:29 +0530 TALLE SHUBHAM ASHOKRAO