Sunil Ashok Paswan v. The State Of Maharashtra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.3035 OF 2025 Sunil A. Paswan ...Applicant V/s.
The State of Maharashtra
...Respondent.
..............
Mr. Prabhanjay R. Dave for the Applicant.
Mrs. A.A. Deshmukh, APP for the Respondent/State. API Raju A. Chavan, Sakinaka Police Station present. ..............
CORAM
:
N.R. BORKAR, J.
DATE :
06.11.2025.
P.C. :
1.
This is an application for anticipatory bail. 2.
The applicant is apprehending his arrest in Crime No. 894 of 2025 registered at Sakinaka Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 3, 4 & 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 and Sections 144(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
3.
It is the case of the prosecution that on 17th September 2025, pursuant to the secret information, a trap was laid at Tara Hotel. During the raid, it was discovered that the applicant and other co-accused were involved in running a brothel. A victim aged 28 years was rescued from the said location and her statement was recorded, wherein she has made the allegations against the applicant and other co-accused of conducting the prostitution activities.
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4.
I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the applicant and the learned APP for the respondent / State. 5.
Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that the applicant has nothing to with the alleged crime. It is submitted that nothing is to be recovered from the applicant and therefore, his custodial interrogation is not necessary. It is submitted that there are no other criminal antecedents against the applicant. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant, without prejudice to his rights and contentions, is ready and willing to pay Rs.50,000/- to a Charitable Organisation, who are looking after the welfare of the victims of prostitution activities. 6.
On the other hand, learned APP for the respondent/State for the respondent/State submits that the victim has specifically named the present applicant in her statement. It is submitted that considering the nature of offence, the applicant may not be released on anticipatory bail.
7.
I have perused the statement of victim. Prima facie, no inference can be drawn from her statement that the present applicant has induced her to engage in prostitution activities. There are no other criminal antecedents against the present applicant. Considering these facts and circumstances, I am inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail. In the result the following order is passed.
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ORDER
A) The Application is allowed.
B) In the event of arrest of the applicant in C.R. No.894 of 2025 registered at Sakinaka Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 3, 4 & 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 and Sections 144(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, he be released on bail on executing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one surety or two sureties in the like amount.
C) The applicant shall pay amount of Rs.50,000/- to Vipla Foundation, Navjivan Mahila Sudhar Griha, Omkar Sadan, Building No.32, Mahatma Phule Cooperative Grihnirman Sanstha, Maharashtra Nagar, Mankhurd, Mumbai, within a period of 8 weeks from today.
D) The applicant shall not commit any other crime. 8.
The Application is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. [N.R.BORKAR, J.] 3/3