Manish Sureshlal Jagiasi v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2141 OF 2025 Digitally signed by ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date:

2025.09.18 22:24:56 +0530 Manish Sureshlal Jagiasi ...Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra & Anr.

...Respondents

ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Mr. R. D. Suryawanshi a/w Suraj N. Naik, for the Applicant. Mr. C. D. Mali, APP, for the Respondent-State. Mr. Monish Bhatia a/w Khushboo Goklani i/b MRB Legal, for Respondent No.2.

A.P.I. Santosh Jadhav, Lonavala City Police Station, District-Pune, present.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED:

16 SEPTEMBER 2025 PC:- 1.

Heard Mr. Suryawanshi, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant, Mr. Mali, learned APP for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra and Mr. Bhatia, learned Counsel appearing for Respondent No.2.

2.

The relief sought in this Anticipatory Bail Application is prearrest bail in connection with CR No.505 of 2024 registered with the Lonavala City Police Station, District-Pune for the offences

punishable under Sections 351(2), 351(3) and 70(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3.

It is the main submission of Mr. Suryawanshi, learned Counsel for the Applicant that the Applicant is running a YouTube channel concerning local news in Ulhasnagar City. He submits that on the said YouTube channel, on several occasions, news regarding illegal Dance Bars which are operating at Ulhasnagar were aired. In fact, due to the said news and as information has been given by the Applicant to the Police concerning said illegal activities, CR No.102 of 2024 was registered on 18th February 2024 at Vitthalwadi Police Station, District - Thane for the offence punishable under Sections 294, 188 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 33(w) and 131 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951. He submits that as at the instance of the Applicant the said FIR has been lodged and in fact the Respondent No.2 - First Informant has been arrested in the said incident, thereafter, subject FIR has been lodged on 13th December 2024 being CR No.505 of 2024 with the Lonavala City Police Station, District-Pune for the offence punishable under Sections 351(2), 351(3) and 70(1) of the

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. He submits that the Applicant is not involved in the crime.

4.

On the other hand, Mr. Mali, learned APP and Mr. Bhatia, learned Counsel for Respondent No.2, submit that the FIR clearly shows the involvement of the Applicant in a very serious crime. Both of them points out various contentions raised in Criminal Anticipatory Bail Application No.8 of 2025 filed by the Applicant before the District and Additional Sessions Judge at Vadgaon, wherein in fact the Applicant has accepted that the Applicant was acquainted with the First Informant who was involved in the Orchestra work and therefore the Anticipatory Bail Application be rejected.

5.

Perusal of the record shows that the Applicant is conducting a You Tube channel with respect to the activities conducted at Ulhasnagar under the name and styled as 'Daily Page Ulhasnagar'. On the said YouTube channel, news regarding the illegal Dance Bars being operational at Ulhasnagar were published.

6.

It is an admitted position that as per the information given by the Applicant, FIR being CR No.102 of 2024 has been registered on 18th February 2024 with Vitthalwadi Police Station, District - Thane for the offence punishable under Sections 294, 188 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 33(w) and 131 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951. It is also an admitted position that the First Informant in the subject CR No.505 of 2024 i.e. Respondent No.2 has been arrested in connection with the said FIR i.e. CR No.102 of 2024.

7.

As far as the subject FIR i.e. CR No.505 of 2024 is concerned, the allegations against the Applicant are concerning the incident which has taken place on 4th October 2023 and the said FIR has been lodged on 13th December 2024 i.e. after a period of about 14 months. In the said FIR, except the allegation concerning the incident which has taken place on 4th October 2023, there is no other allegation against the present Applicant. 8.

Accordingly, the 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 - Manish Sureshlal Jagiasi in connection with CR No.505 of 2024 registered with the Lonavala City Police Station, District-Pune, the Applicant is directed to 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 22nd September 2025, 23rd September 2025 and 24th September 2025 between 11:00 am to 02:00 pm and thereafter as and when called by the Investigating Officer till filing of the Charge-sheet 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 not leave India without prior permission of the Court.

9.

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