Sumit Shivaji Sonawane v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.3013 OF 2025 Sumit Shivaji Sonawane ...Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

AND ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3019 OF 2025 Nilesh @ Nayan Shivaji Sonawane ...Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

Mr. Ranjeet M. Pawar, for the Applicant in both ABAs. Mr. S. A. Karmakar, APP for the Respondent-State in ABA/3013/2025.

Ms. R. V. Newton, APP for the Respondent-State in ABA/3019/2025.

PSI Akshay More, Yavat Police Station, Pune, present.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED:

04 NOVEMBER 2025 PC:- 1.

Heard Mr. Pawar, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant in both the Anticipatory Bail Applications, Mr. Karmakar, learned APP for the Respondent-State in Anticipatory Bail Application No.3013 of 2025 and Ms. Newton, learned APP for the Respondent-State in Anticipatory Bail Application No.3019 of 2025.

2.

By the present Anticipatory Bail Applications filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ("BNSS"), the Applicants are seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.649 of 2025 registered with the Yavat Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 110, 118(2), 126(2), 3(5), 351(2), 351(3) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ("BNS").

3.

The Applicant - Sumit Shivaji Sonawane (Anticipatory Bail Application No.3013 of 2025) is Accused No.3 and the Applicant - Nilesh alias Nayan Shivaji Sonawane (Anticipatory Bail Application No.3019 of 2025) is Accused No.4 in said C.R. No.649 of 2025. 4.

Mr. Pawar, learned Counsel for the Applicants, submits that both the Applicants are students and pursuing Engineering Degree Courses and their examinations are scheduled to be held on 10th November 2025. He submits that Accused No.1 - Shivaji Narayan Sonawane has already been granted anticipatory bail by Order dated 10th October 2025 passed by this Court. He further submits that the injuries sustained are simple in nature.

5.

Ms. Newton, learned APP and Mr. Karmakar, learned APP strongly oppose granting anticipatory bail.

6.

The prosecution case is set out in Paragraph No.3 of the Order dated 10th October 2025 passed by this Court in Anticipatory Bail Application No.2761 of 2025 filed by Co-Accused. Said Paragraph No.3 reads as under :- "3.

The prosecution case is set out in paragraph 2 and 3 of order dated 26 September 2025 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Baramati, District Pune in Criminal Bail Application No.703 of 2025 by which the Anticipatory Bail Application filed by the present Applicant has been rejected. The said paragraph Nos. 2 and 3 reads as under :- "2]. The informant Swapnil Haridas Veer has filed report on 01/08/2025 against the accused/applicant and other accused persons alleging that on 30/07/2025 at about 12:30 noon, he went to Talathi office in their village. There he inquired with Talathi whether their office was opened Yesterday i.e. on 29/07/2025. Talathi has not replied. But, the accused/ applicant came there and started saying that he has open Talathi office, he can do anything, he is Kotwal and has right to open the office.

By saying so, the accused/applicant started abusing and threatening him saying that, he will file case under Atrocity Act against him. He took out his mobile phone and phone called his son Nayan and Sumit. By seeing that seen, the informant left that place and went to his house.

3] He takes his tractor and started proceeding to his land bearing Gat No. 255. At that time, one white colour four-wheeler followed him, blow horn and gave him signal to stop. In that, rwo motorcycles also have followed that car, came in front of his Tractor and stop, So, the informant has stopped his tractor. Accused Nayan Shivaji Sonawane, Sumit Shivaji Sonawane and Yash Suresh Sonawane get down from motorcycle pulled him from Tractor and started beating him Yash taken big stone lying over there and tried to hit on his head. The informant missed that blow but, the shine bit to his back. Due to that he sustained injury. Accused Sumit and Nayan started beating him by stick lying over there. All of them were abusing him. In that, the accused/applicant came there and started instigating other accused persons saying that "

आतासोडायचेनाही, जीवेमारुन टाकायचे". The accused/applicant has abused him and threatened to kill. His brother Pandurang came there by hearing the commotions and loud shouts. He rescued him. Thereafter, he gone to police station. Police gave him yadi and referred to hospital. Medical officer examined him and gave treatment. Thereafter, on next date i.e. on 01/08/2025 came to police station and filed report against accused persons". "

7.

The Applicants are young persons, aged 21 and 24 years, respectively. Both of them are students. The injuries are simple in nature.

8.

Thus, in the facts and circumstances, case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. In view thereof, the following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant - Sumit Shivaji Sonawane and Applicant - Nilesh alias Nayan Shivaji Sonawane, in connection with CR No.649 of 2025 registered with the Yavat Police Station, Pune, they be released on bail on their furnishing PR Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- each with one or two solvent sureties each in the like amount.

(b) The Applicants shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when called till filing of the Chargesheet and shall cooperate with the investigation. (c) The Applicants shall furnish their cell phone numbers and residential addresses to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated, in case of any change thereto.

(d) 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.

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

9.

The Anticipatory Bail Applications are disposed of accordingly.

[MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]