Vikrant Bahal v. The State Of Maharashtra

Digitally signed by CHITRA SANJAY SONAWANE Date:

2025.08.18 14:21:49 +0530 CHITRA SANJAY SONAWANE Chitra Sonawane 907-aba-2279-25.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION Anticipatory Bail Application No.2279 of 2025 Vikrant Bahal ... Applicant.

Vs.

The State of Maharashtra ... Respondent. --- M Advait Shukla i/by Prem Kumar Dubey and Bharti Gupta for the applicant.

Mr Shahji Shinde Panel 'B' Counsel, a/w Mr SM Mangaonkar, APP for the respondent / State.

--- Coram : R.N.Laddha, J.

Date : 14 August 2025.

P.C. :

The learned Counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has neither created nor executed any document with the intent to deceive or defraud the complainant. There is no material available on record which may even prima facie suggest that the applicant has indulge in any misrepresentation or that he has dishonestly induced the informant to part with money.

2.

The learned Counsel further submits that the remand report dated 27 June 2025 clearly records that the transaction in question pertains to the purchase of certain Page No. 1 of 2 ____________________________________________ 14 August 2025

Chitra Sonawane 907-aba-2279-25.doc articles from the brother of the informant, and not directly from the informant himself. The alleged transaction, as narrated in the FIR, is stated to have taken place during the period spanning December 2022 to December 2023. Accordingly, there is an inordinate and unexplained delay in lodging the FIR, which came to be registered only in June 2024, several months after the alleged cause of action. The learned Counsel also submits that without prejudice to his rights and contentions, and to demonstrate his bona fides, the applicant is willing and ready to deposit the alleged amount of Rs.11 lakhs, said to have been received by him, with the Registry of this Court. The learned Counsel, accordingly, seeks leave of the Court to deposit the aforesaid amount within a period of two weeks from today. Leave, as prayed for, is granted. The learned APP, representing the respondent/ State, however, seeks time to obtain instructions from the investigating officer, who is not present before the Court.

3.

By consent, stand over to 8 September 2025. In the meantime, there shall not be any coercive action against the applicant in the present crime till the next date. [R. N. Laddha, J.] Page No. 2 of 2 ____________________________________________ 14 August 2025