Rajendra Shavarsidha Landge v. The State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.1925 OF 2025 ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Rajendra Shavarsidha Landge ...Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date: 2026.02.19 15:05:09 +0530 Mr. Sudeep Pasbola, Senior Advocate a/w Vinay Bhanushali, Sanmit Vaze, Chinmay Godse & Rajan Gurnani, for the Applicant. Ms. G. P. Mulekar, APP, for the Respondent-State. Mr. Aditya Mithe a/w Sachin Agawane, Esha Joshi & Yashratan Surana, for the Intervenor/First Informant in FIR/257/2025. A.P.I. Santosh Duryodhan Dange, EOW, Pune, present.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED:

10 FEBRUARY 2026 PC:- 1.

Heard Mr. Pasbola, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Applicant, Ms. Mulekar, learned APP for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra and Mr. Mithe, learned Counsel appearing for the First Informant in FIR No.257 of 2025 registered with the Wagholi Police Station, Pune City, which is concerning the subject property. 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.195 of 2025 registered with the Chandannagar Police Station, Pune

City, for the offences punishable under Sections 120B, 471, 468, 467 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ("IPC"). 3.

It is the submission of Mr. Pasbola, learned Senior Counsel for the Applicant that the Applicant was a Senior Police Inspector when CR No.207 of 2023 was registered with the Chandannagar Police Station, Pune City, for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 406, 419, 468, 471 and 120B of IPC. He submits that the allegation against the present Applicant is that the Applicant, despite knowing the identity of Aparna Verma from Sangli, along with other Accused namely Anand Bhagat and his associates and Shailesh Thombare, entered into a criminal conspiracy. They created forged documents to present Aparna Verma from Sangli as Aparna Verma from Dubai and presented her as the genuine owner of the land at Wagholi.

4.

It is submitted that the Applicant was neither a party to any document or the agreement for sale of subject property, nor has he received any consideration from the said transaction. It is submitted that no role is attributed to the present Applicant. It is further submitted that said Aparna Verma from Dubai has already

settled the dispute by executing Consent Terms which have been filed before the Court and on the basis of the same the Civil Suit has been disposed of and thereafter the FIR was lodged. It is submitted that the Charge-sheet is already filed against the main Accused - Anand Bhagat.

5.

On the other hand, Ms. Mulekar, learned APP, for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra, submits that the Applicant was in contact with the Co-Accused namely, Anand Bhagat and Shailesh Thombare, who have executed the said Sale-Deed with Aparna Verma who is from Sangli, by representing that said Aparna Verma is from Dubai. She submits that during the period of 1st January 2024 to 16th May 2025, the Applicant made 272 phone calls to Rameshwar Mhaske, whose role was to see that the dispute between the parties is settled. Insofar as Anand Bhagat and Shailesh Thombare who are the Purchasers of such fake transaction, there are 32 and 40 phone calls. She, therefore, submits that the Applicant is involved in the crime. She submits that when the house of the Co-Accused, Anand Bhagat was searched, a copy of a Power of Attorney was found with respect to

some other property and the said Power of Attorney was giving power to the Applicant's wife.

6.

Mr. Mithe, learned Counsel for the First Informant in FIR No.257 of 2025, submits that the present Applicant is the brotherin-law of the main Accused, Shailesh Thombare who has purchased the property by said forged transaction. 7.

Perusal of the record shows that the allegation made against the Applicant is that, despite knowing the identify of Aparna Verma from Sangli, the present Applicant associated himself with the CoAccused in registering the document, wherein a representation was made by said Aparna Verma from Sangli that she was Aparna Yashpal Verma from Dubai.

8.

However, perusal of the record shows that when CR No.207 of 2023 was registered with the Chandannagar Police Station, Pune City, the Applicant was the Senior Police Inspector of the said Police Station. The said FIR is regarding the execution of a SaleDeed dated 20th March 2023 by Aparna Verma from Sangli, who represented herself as Aparna Verma from Dubai.

9.

Although Ms. Mulekar, learned APP, pointed out the phone calls, they pertain to the period from 1st January 2024 to 16th May 2025. The alleged Sale-Deed which is the subject matter of CR No.207 of 2023 is dated 20th March 2023. Thus, the said phone calls have no relevance.

10.

The other allegation is that one of the Purchaser, Shailesh Thombare, Co-Accused, is the brother-in-law of the present Applicant. However, the same do not show that the Applicant is involved in the crime.

11.

The contention that during the search of the house of Anand Bhagat, a photocopy of a Power of Attorney was recovered, which pertains to some other property and was issued in the name of the wife of the present Applicant. As the said Power of Attorney concerns some other property, the said aspect is not relevant. 12.

This Court by separate detailed Order passed today in Anticipatory Bail Application No.1793 of 2025 has granted prearrest bail to Co-Accused-Shailesh Sadashiv Thombare. The reasons set out in the said Order are also relevant and applicable in this case.

13.

In any case, in the facts and circumstances, the custodial interrogation is not necessary.

14.

Thus, in the facts and circumstances, case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. In view thereof, the following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant - Rajendra Shavarsidha Landge, in connection with CR No.195 of 2025 registered with the Chandannagar Police Station, Pune City, he be released on bail on his furnishing PR Bond in the sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount. (b) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station on 20th February 2026 and 21st February 2026 between 11:00 am to 02:00 pm and thereafter once in a month i.e. on the first Sunday of every month between 11:00 am to 02:00 pm, 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 deposit the passport with the Investigating Officer.

(g) The Applicant shall not leave India without prior permission of the learned Trial Court/Sessions Court. 15.

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