Suraj Sanjay Jadhav v. State Of Maharashtra

Digitally signed by CHITRA SANJAY SONAWANE Date:

2025.07.12 15:01:52 +0530 CHITRA SANJAY SONAWANE Chitra Sonawane 911-aba-1859-25.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION Anticipatory Bail Application No.1859 of 2025 Suraj Sanjay Jadhav Age: 28 yrs, Occ: Agriculture R/at Kadegaon, Tal. Kadegaon, Dist. Sangli.

... Applicant.

Vs.

The State of Maharashtra Through the Dhebewadi police station, Tal.Patan, Dist. Satara, CR No.17/2025 Notice to be served on APP HC, Mumbai.

... Respondent.

--- Mr Mahindra Deshmukh for the applicant.

Mr Shahaji Shinde, 'B' Panel Counsel a/w Mr Anand Shalgaonkar, APP for the respondent / State. PSI IM Chavan, Dhebewadi police station, Satara. --- Coram : R.N.Laddha, J.

Date : 11 July 2025.

P.C. :

Heard the learned Counsel for the parties.

2.

By this application, the applicant seeks pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.17 of 2025, registered at Page No. 1 of 5

Chitra Sonawane 911-aba-1859-25.doc Dhebewadi Police Station, Patan, Satara, for offences punishable under Sections 115, 118(1), 118(2), 126(2), 140(3), 189, 191, 351(2), 351(3), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3.

It is the case of the prosecution that on the night of 6 March 2025, the applicant and the co-accused formed an unlawful assembly and launched an attack on the informant and his companions, employing punches, kicks, an iron pipe, and a knife. During the altercation, the applicant snatched the informant's mobile phone. Due to the informant's lack of involvement in any thefts with them, the accused individuals forcibly abducted him in a vehicle and drove him toward Kadegaon.

4.

The learned Counsel for the applicant asserts the applicant's innocence and contends that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the crime. He submits that the vehicles and the weapons allegedly used in the crime have been recovered from the co-accused. The investigation is complete, and nothing remains to be recovered or discovered from the applicant. Furthermore, the learned Page No. 2 of 5

Chitra Sonawane 911-aba-1859-25.doc Counsel submits that the co-accused have already been granted bail and the applicant is ready to abide by any conditions this Court imposes if granted bail. 5.

The learned Additional Public Prosecutor representing the respondent/ State submits that the offence is of a serious nature and there are eyewitnesses to the incident. However, on instructions from the investigating officer, who is present in the Court, the learned APP fairly acknowledges that the weapons were recovered from the co-accused. He further states that the investigation is almost complete, and nothing is to be recovered or discovered from the applicant. 6.

After perusing the records, it appears that the applicant is accused of participating in an unlawful assembly, attacking the informant, taking his mobile phone, and kidnapping him. The alleged incident took place on 6 March 2025. The vehicles and weapons allegedly used in the commission of the offence have already been recovered from the co-accused. The co-accused have already been granted bail. Moreover, the learned APP candidly concedes that the investigation has reached an advanced stage, and Page No. 3 of 5

Chitra Sonawane 911-aba-1859-25.doc nothing remains to be recovered or discovered from the applicant. To address the prosecution's concerns about evidence tampering and witness influence, appropriate conditions can be imposed. In the circumstances, this Court is inclined to exercise its discretion in favour of the applicant. Hence, the following order:

ORDER

(i) In the event of the applicant's arrest in connection with CR No.17 of 2025, registered at Dhebewadi Police Station, Patan, Satara, he shall be released on bail upon executing a PR Bond of Rs.25,000/- and furnishing one or more sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station on 14 July 2025, 15 July 2025 and 16 July 2025 between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and as and when required by the investigating officer.

(iii) The applicant, himself or through Page No. 4 of 5

Chitra Sonawane 911-aba-1859-25.doc any other person, shall not tamper with the evidence or influence any witnesses.

7.

The application stands disposed of accordingly. [R. N. Laddha, J.] Page No. 5 of 5