Vishal Rajendra Nikam And ANR v. The Sr Police Inspector And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2389 OF 2025

1. Vishal Rajendra Nikam

2. Rajendra Keda Nikam ...Applicants

Versus

State of Maharashtra & Anr.

...Respondents

BHALCHANDRA GOPAL DUSANE BHALCHANDRA GOPAL DUSANE Date: 2025.12.08 19:43:48 +0530 Mr. Mateen Shaikh, Advocate for Applicants.

Mr. S.M. Mangaonkar, APP for the State.

Mr. Akshay Bankapur, Advocate for Respondent No.2.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED :

8th December 2025 P.C.:

1.

Heard Mr. Shaikh, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants, Mr. Bankapur, learned Counsel appearing for the Respondent No.2 and Mr. Mangaonkar, learned APP appearing for the State.

2.

By this application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ("BNSS"), the Applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with C.R. No.517 of 2025 registered with Satana Police Station, Nashik Rural, for the offences punishable under Section 420 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

3.

The case of the prosecution is set out in paragraph No.8 of the Order dated 6th August 2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Malegaon, District Nashik in Criminal Bail Application No. 714 of 2025, which reads as under :- "8.

Copy of F.I.R. prima facie shows that FIR is registered against applicants-accused on 18/07/2025 at 17.07 hours at Satana Police Station for the offence p/u/s. 420 r.w. 34 of the I.P.C. as the incident is of the year 2023. From the say of I.O. and police papers submitted for perusal prima facie it can be said that offence p/u/s. 464, 465, 468, 471 r.w. 34 of the I.P.C. are added during investigation. In the FIR it is alleged that in the month of June-2022 the brother in law of informant met with applicant No.1/accused at his Petrol Pump, at that time he (the applicant No.

1/accused) had told that he has contact with Government servants and he can secure Government job to anyone, therefore, the brother in law of informant and other relatives of informant, believing on the words of applicants-accused time and again gave amounts total amounting to Rs.19 lacs to the applicants-accused for securing the Government job to the informant in the Education Department. It is further alleged that applicant No.

Panshet Dist. Pune and obtained 3 months training in the Primary Health Center and thereafter, he undergone training and worked for 7 months in Primary Health Center, Wada, Tal. Rajgurnagar and thereafter, he got second appointment letter of the Dy. Director, Health Department, Pune. In the FIR it is alleged that the informant got Rs.19,200/- through his Bank Account. It is alleged in the FIR that when the informant went at District Hospital to join as per the appointment letter given by the applicants-accused, the Officer in that office told the informant that the said appointment is forged and false document. In the FIR it is further alleged that at that time informant got knowledge that he has been cheated by the applicants-accused and that applicantsaccused have cheated other persons also by giving promise of Government service and by issuing false and forged appointment letters."

4.

Mr. Shaikh, learned Counsel for the Applicant submitted that pursuant to the Order dated 20th November 2025, the Applicant No.1 i.e. Accused No.1 has surrendered and he is in custody. 5.

Perusal of record shows that the Applicant No.2 is the father of Accused No.1. The main role as per the prosecution case is of Accused No.1. It is true that Accused No.2 has helped Accused No.1 in committing the crime and actively participated in the

crime, which is very serious. However, as the Applicant No.2 i.e. Accused No.2 is senior citizen, and has undertaken to co-operate with the investigation, the case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail by imposing stringent conditions. Hence, following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(i) The Anticipatory Bail Application as regards Applicant No.1- Vishal Rajendra Nikam is disposed of as withdrawn.

(ii) In the event of arrest, the Applicant No.2- Rajendra Keda Nikam be released on bail in C.R. No.517 of 2025 registered with Satana Police Station, Nashik Rural, on executing P.R. bond of Rs.1,00,000/- and furnishing one or two sureties in the like amount. (iii) The Applicants shall attend the concerned Police Station on 18th December 2025, 19th December 2025 and 20th December 2025 between 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. and thereafter once a week i.e. on every Sunday

between 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. till filing of the Charge-sheet and shall co-operate with the investigation.

(iv) 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.

(v) 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.

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

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

6.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed and disposed of accordingly.

(MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.)