Sujata Mansing Shitole v. The State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.1352 OF 2025 Digitally signed by ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date:

2025.10.16 21:40:54 +0530 ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Sujata Mansing Shitole ...Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra & Anr.

...Respondents

Mr. Sangram Desai (Through Video Conferencing) a/w Sainath S. Garade & Yogesh A. Sukale i/b Aadesh Konde Deshmukh, for the Applicant.

Mr. C. D. Mali, APP, for the Respondent-State. P.S.I. Maroti Metalwad, Yavat Police Station, Pune Rural, present.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED:

14 OCTOBER 2025 PC:- 1.

Heard Mr. Desai, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant and Mr. Mali, learned APP for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra.

2.

By this 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.293 of 2025 registered with the Yavat Police Station, Pune Rural, District-Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 85, 352, 351(2), 3(5), 115(2) and 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3.

As per the prosecution case, the husband and mother-in-law of the deceased Sarika have physically and mentally harassed the deceased and therefore she committed the suicide. Accused No.1 i.e. husband of deceased - Prashant Mansing Shitole has been arrested on 26th March 2025 and released on regular bail on 7th July 2025. The Applicant i.e. accused No.2 is the mother-in-law of the deceased.

4.

Mr. Desai, learned Counsel for the Applicant, submits that even if the allegations in the FIR are taken as it is, then also the alleged act of death by suicide cannot be connected with the Applicant. In any case, he submits that the Charge-sheet is already filed and the investigation is completed. He submits that the Applicant is a woman, aged 55 years and therefore the anticipatory bail be granted to her.

5.

On the other hand, Mr. Mali, learned APP strongly opposes the Anticipatory Bail Application. He submits that there are serious allegations against the Applicant. However, on instructions, he submits that the Charge-sheet is filed on 27th May 2025.

6.

Perusal of the record shows that the allegations against the Applicant are very serious. However, as the Charge-sheet is filed on 27th May 2025, the investigation is complete. As the Applicant is a woman, aged 55 years, the case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail.

7.

In view thereof, the following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant - Sujata Mansing Shitole in connection with CR No.293 of 2025 registered with the Yavat Police Station, DistrictPune, she be released on bail on her 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 her 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.

8.

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