Balasaheb Pandhari Ambhore v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.3474 OF 2025 Balasaheb Pandhari Ambhore ... Applicant V/s.

State Of Maharashtra And Anr.

... Respondents ____________________________________ Mr. Siddharth N. Sutaria a/w Mr. Hrishikesh Ghorpade, Advocate for the Applicant.

Ms. S M. Yadav, APP, for the Respondent-State. Mr. Shantanu H. Katkar i/b Mr. Avdhut Salunkhe, Advocate for Respondent No.2.

Mr. Dadaso Ramdas Nale, Kalepadal Police Station, Pune City present. ____________________________________

CORAM

: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED : 18th FEBRUARY 2026 P.C.:

1.

Heard Mr. Sutaria, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant, Ms. Yadav, learned APP for the State and Mr. Katkar, learned Counsel appearing for Respondent No.2.

2.

By the present 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.424 of 2025 registered with Kalepadal Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 75, 78, 351(2), 351(3), 352 of the Bharatiya

Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ("BNS"), Sections 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

3.

It is the submission of Mr. Sutaria, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant that, the Applicant is not involved in the crime. He submits that the Applicant and the First Informant were in a love relationship for more than 6 years. Mr. Sutaria, learned counsel relies on WhatsApp chats between the Applicant and the First Informant to substantiate the said contention. He submits that some disputes started in the said relationship and thereafter FIR has been filed. He submits that the Applicant is a cancer patient. He submits that charge sheet is filed and therefore investigation is completed. 4.

On the other hand, Mr. Katkar, learned counsel appearing for the Respondent No.2 and Mr. Yadav, learned APP submits that the offences very serious. The age of the victim was 14 years when the incident took place. Therefore, custodial interrogation is necessary. 5.

Perusal of record shows that Charge sheet is already filed. Thus the investigation is completed. The Applicant has been granted interim protection by order dated 17th December 2025 and there is nothing on record to indicate that the said protection has been misused. However

in the facts and circumstances stringent conditions are required to be imposed while granting pre-arrest bail.

6.

Thus, in the facts and circumstances case is made out for grant of Anticipatory Bail. In view thereof following order is passed:

O R D E R

(i) In the event of arrest of the Applicant - Balasaheb Pandhari Ambhore in connection with C.R. No.424 of 2025 registered with Kalepadal Police Station, Pune, he be released on bail on executing P.R. bond of Rs.25,000/- and furnishing one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station once a week i.e. on every Sunday between 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. till completion of the trial. (iii) The Applicant shall furnish his cell phone number and residential address to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated, in case of any change thereto.

(iv) The Applicant 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.

(v) The Applicant shall deposit the passport in the Trial Court.

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

(vii) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant, victim or any witness, in any manner. 7.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed and disposed of accordingly.

( MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.)