Shreeyash Manik Jagtap v. The State Of Maharashtra

Sharada

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.3593 OF 2025 Shreeyash Manik Jagtap ...Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

WITH INTERIM APPLICATION NO.130 OF 2026 IN ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.3593 OF 2025 Mahesh Nivrutti Gogawale ...Applicant

IN THE MATTER BETWEEN:

Shreeyash Manik Jagtap ...Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra

...Respondent

_______________________________________________________________ Mr. Saurbh Ghag, Adv. Dakshata Sawant, Ms.Nikita Chavan, and Mr. Siddhant Raul, Advocates for Applicant.

Mr. Milind Sathe,Advocate General with Chief PP. Ms. Mankuwar M. Deshmukh for State along with APP Savita M. Yadav. Mr. Harshad Sathe a/w Mr. Vaibhav i/b Mr. Sidharth Mehta, for the Intervenors / Applicant in IA(ST)/933/2026 in ABA/3593/2005. Mr. Ramesh B. Tadvi, Mahad City Police Station,Raigad present. _______________________________________________________________ CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED: 17th JANUARY 2026 P.C.:

1.

This is a serious matter. As noted in order dated 16th January, 2026, Applicant No.1-Vikas Bharat Gogawale in Anticipatory Bail

Application No.3557 of 2025, Son of Mr. Bharat Gogawale, the Cabinet Minister of the State of Maharashtra and Applicant No.2Mahesh Nivrutti Gogawale in the said Anticipatory Bail Application is the nephew of the said Cabinet Minister and they are absconding. Both these Applicants in the said Anticipatory Bail Application and the Applicants in Anticipatory Bail Application No.3561 of 2025 who are also close relatives of the said Cabinet Minister are absconding. This Court by order dated 23rd December, 2025 rejected Anticipatory Bail Applications filed by them. It is surprising to note that said Applicant-Mahesh Gogawale has filed Interim Application No.

130 of 2026 in this Anticipatory Bail Application opposing grant of Anticipatory Bail Application and Affidavit verifying the contents of said Interim Application is affirmed on 14th January, 2026 before Notary whose address is at Navi Mumbai. Thus, prima facie there is substance in the contention of Mr. Ghag, learned counsel appearing for the Applicant that police are favouring these Applicants as they are very close relatives of Mr. Bharat Gogawale, Cabinet Minister of the State of Maharashtra.

2.

However, Mr. Sathe, learned Advocate General submits that

the said contention is incorrect and the police have taken various efforts to arrest the accused who are absconding and seeks time to file Affidavit-in-Reply. Learned Advocate General states that the Affidavit-in-Reply will be filed on or before 21st January, 2026. 3.

This is a very serious case where the Cabinet Minister's Son, nephew and other close relatives are accused in a very serious case which as per the contention of the Applicant is a cross FIR. Anticipatory Bail Applications filed by them have been dismissed on 23rd December, 2025 and till date the accused have not been arrested and they are absconding.

4.

However, at the request of learned Advocate General, stand over to 22nd January, 2026. To be shown "First on Board" at 3.00 pm.

5.

Although, as far as the present Applicant-Shreeyash Manik Jagtap is concerned, the offence is very serious, however, in the facts and circumstances as it is the contention of Mr. Ghag, learned counsel, that police are totally biased and taking malafide actions and they are not arresting the accused in cross FIR i.e. Son, nephew and close relatives of the Cabinet Minister of State of

Maharashtra, till next date no coercive steps be taken against the Applicant.

[MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]