Lakshman Babu Nagula v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2217 OF 2025 Lakshman B. Nagula ...Applicant V/s.

The State of Maharashtra

...Respondent.

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Mr. Rishi Bhuta a/w. Ms Bhumika Khandelwal, Adv. Poshkraj Deshpande, Adv. Saakshi Jha and Adv. Bhavi Kapoor i/b ALMT Legal for the Applicant.

Mrs. R.D. Humane, APP for the Respondent/State. Mr. Mitesh Jain i/b Mr. Chaitanya Mendon for the complainant. PI Ajit, Pant Nagar Pollice Station present.

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CORAM

:

N.R. BORKAR, J.

DATE :

16.09.2025.

P.C. :

1.

This is an application for anticipatory bail. 2.

The applicant is apprehending his arrest in Crime No.796 of 2025 registered at Pantnagar Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 61(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3.

The first informant is a Custom Clearing Agent. It is the case of the prosecution that in the year 2023, the first informant was introduced to the present applicant who at the relevant time was working as Chief Business Officer with Elite Green Pvt. Ltd. According to the prosecution, during the period from February1/3

2024 to December-2024, the first informant had handled various shipments of the applicant's company. It is alleged that total amount towards handling of the said shipments was 22.94 Crore. It is alleged that out of said amount of Rs. 22.94 Crore, the Directors of the said Elite Green Pvt. Ltd. and the present applicant had not paid the amount of Rs.7.85 Crore to the first informant and thereby cheated him.

4.

I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the applicant, the learned APP for the respondent / State and learned counsel for the first informant.

5.

Learned counsel for the applicant has drawn my attention to the order passed by the Sessions Court dated 26th August 2025 in A.B.A. No. 1717 of 2025. By the said order, the learned Sessions Court has released co-accused who is the Chairman of Elite Green Pvt. Ltd. on anticipatory bail.

6.

I have perused the FIR. Prima-facie, the dispute between the parties appears to be commercial dispute. In that view of the matter, I am inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail. In the result the following order is passed.

ORDER

A) The Application is allowed.

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B) In the event of arrest of the applicant in C.R. No.796 of 2025 registered at Pantnagar Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 61(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, he be released on bail on executing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one surety or two sureties in the like amount.

C) The applicant shall attend the concerend police station as and when called and shall co-opearate in the investigation.

[N.R.BORKAR, J.] 3/3