Vasant Govind Gunjal And ANR v. The State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2292 OF 2025

1. Vasant Govind Gunjal

2. Surekha Vasant Gunjal ...Applicants BHALCHANDRA GOPAL DUSANE

Versus

State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

BHALCHANDRA GOPAL DUSANE Date: 2025.09.08 20:59:34 +0530 Mr. Shrirang Katneshwarkar a/w Mr. Vivek Chauhan, Mr. Sandeep Gupta Advocate for Applicants.

Mr. S.A. Karmarkar, APP for the State.

Mr. R.S. Nalkande, PSI, Satpur Police Station, Nashik, present.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED :

8th September 2025 P.C.:

1.

Heard Mr. Katneshwarkar, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants and Mr. Karmarkar, learned APP for the State. 2.

The Applicants are seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with C.R. No.199 of 2025, registered with Satpur Police Station, Nashik for the offences punishable under Sections 80, 85, 108, 115, 352 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ("B.N.S."). 3.

It is the submission of Mr. Katneshwarkar, learned Counsel for the Applicants that the Applicants are father-in-law and

mother-in-law of the deceased. The marriage between the deceased and Accused No.1 i.e. husband took place on 26th March 2022. They have a child from the said wedlock of 2 1⁄2 years old. 4.

It is the prosecution case that since the marriage and more particularly from the year 2023, husband of the deceased was demanding money and husband has assaulted the deceased. It is also alleged that the deceased has been subjected to cruelty by father-in-law and mother-in-law.

5.

It is the submission of Mr. Katneshwarkar, learned Counsel for the Applicants the Applicants are not involved in the crime and the deceased was suffering from Schizophrenia. 6.

On the other hand, learned APP strongly opposes granting pre-arrest bail to the Applicants.

7.

Perusal of record shows that the main allegations inter alia are against the Accused No.1- Mahesh Gunjal i.e. the husband of deceased. The said Accused No.1 has been arrested and not granted bail. The present Applicants are father-in-law and mother-

in-law. It is also admitted position that the Charge-sheet has also been filed. Therefore, no custodial interrogation is required. 8.

Accordingly, both the Applicants are entitled to pre-arrest bail. Hence, following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(i) In the event of arrest, the Applicants - Vasant Govind Gunjal and Surekha Vasant Gunjal be enlarged on bail in C.R. No.199 of 2025, registered with Satpur Police Station, Nashik under Sections 80, 85, 108, 115, 352 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ("B.N.S.") on executing P.R. bonds of Rs.25,000/- each and furnishing one or two sureties in the like amount. (ii) The Applicants shall attend the concerned Police Station once in a month i.e. on first Sunday of the month between 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. till framing of Charge.

(iii) The Applicants shall furnish their cell phone numbers and residential address to the Investigating Officer and

shall keep the same updated, in case of any change thereto.

(iv) The Applicants 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.

(v) The Applicants shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant, or any witness, in any manner.

(vi) The Applicants shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court.

9.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed and disposed of accordingly.

(MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.)