Ravi Rajendra Vishwakarma v. The State Of Maharashtra

1 919-ABA 2576-25.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2576 OF 2025 Ravi Rajendra Vishwakarma ... Applicant V/s.

The State of Maharashtra ... Respondent ----- Mr. Rohit Pandey and Pramila Prajapati i/by Rahul Pandey for the Applicant.

Mr. V. N. Sagare, APP for the Respondent-State. API Sambhaji Thorat, Kasturba Marg Police Station is present. ----- CORAM :

N.R. BORKAR, J.

DATE :

20TH SEPTEMBER 2025 P.C. :

1.

This is Application for anticipatory bail.

2.

The Applicant is apprehending arrest in Crime No.11 of 2024 registered with Kasturba Marg Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 420, 424, 427, 465, 466, 468, 469, 471 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

3.

The Applicant was working as marketing officer with the Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited. It is the case of the prosecution that the Applicant along with other co-accused in connivance with each other defrauded the bank to the tune of Rs. 2,32,74,209/-. It is alleged that loans were sanctioned on the basis of forged documents and against the properties, which were already mortgaged with other financial

2 919-ABA 2576-25.doc institutions.

4.

I have heard Learned Counsel for the Applicant and Learned APP for the Respondent-State.

5.

Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant has nothing to do with the alleged crime. It is submitted that the job of the Applicant was to collect the documents from the borrower and submit it to the credit department of the bank. It is submitted that the Applicant is ready to co-operate in the investigation.

6.

On the other hand, Learned APP for the Respondent-State has drawn my attention to one of the loan verification reports submitted by the Applicant. It is submitted though the property was mortgaged with other financial institution, positive report was submitted by the Applicant. It is submitted that considering the nature of the crime, the Applicant may not be released on anticipatory bail.

7.

It is not disputed that the loan was sanctioned by the credit department of the bank. Nobody is made accused from the credit department. Prima-facie, it appears that the applicant is made scapegoat. There are no criminal antecedents against the Applicant. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, I am inclined to release the Applicant on anticipatory bail. Hence, the following order:

3 919-ABA 2576-25.doc

ORDER

i.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed. ii.

In the event of the arrest of the Applicant in Crime No.11 of 2024 registered with Kasturba Marg Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 420, 424, 427, 465, 466, 468, 469, 471 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, he shall be released on bail on furnishing a PR Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only)with one or two sureties in the like amount. iii. The Applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when called for by the investigating officer and shall cooperative in the investigation. 8.

The present Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

(N.R. BORKAR, J.)