Preeti Sandip Pawar v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2854 OF 2025 Preeti Sandip Pawar ...Applicant V/s.

The State of Maharashtra and Anr.

...Respondents

Adv.Khwaja Shaikh, Advocate for the Applicant. Ms. Rutuja Ambekar, APP for the Respondent/State.

CORAM

:

N.R. BORKAR, J.

DATE :

14.10.2025.

P.C. :

1.

This is an application for Anticipatory Bail. 2.

The applicant is apprehending his arrest in Crime No. 1084 of 2025 registered at Oshiwara Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 143(1) & 143(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4 & 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

3.

It is the case of the prosecution that on 26.08.2025 at about 3.30 p.m. on the basis of secret information a trap was laid and a raid was conducted at Tim Hartons, Andheri (W). During the 1/4

said raid, three victims who were forced into prostitution by the applicant and other co-accused, were rescued. The allegations against the present applicant and other co-accused are of running a brothel.

4.

I have heard the learned counsel for the applicant and learned APP for the respondent-State.

5.

The learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has nothing to do with the alleged crime. It is submitted that there are no other criminal antecedents against the applicant. The learned counsel for the applicant submits that, without prejudice to her rights and defence, she is willing to pay Rs.50,000/- to "Kshamata" NGO.

6.

On the other hand, the learned APP for the respondentState submits that the applicant is involved in a serious case of running a brothel. It is submitted that one of the victims has stated that the present applicant was present at the time when the raid was conducted.

7.

I have perused the statements of the victims. They 2/4

have not stated that the present applicant persuaded them to engage in prostitution activities. There are no other criminal antecedents against the present applicant and there is no need of custodial interrogation. In that view of the matter, I am inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail. In the result, the following order is passed :

O R D E R

a) The Application is allowed.

b) In the event of arrest of the applicant in connection withCrime No. 1084 of 2025 registered at Oshiwara Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 143(1) & 143(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4 & 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the applicant be released on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount.

c) The applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when called by the 3/4

investigating officer and shall co-operate in the investigation.

d) The applicant shall pay the amount of Rs.50,000/- to "Kshamata NGO, 6x27+R4R, Prathamesh Niwas, behind Ranka Banquet, Ramchandra Nagar No.-2, Thane (west), Thane, Maharashtra, 400604, within a period of three weeks.

[N.R.BORKAR, J.] 4/4