Rajaram Sujaji Chaudhari And ANR v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.3597 OF 2025

1. Rajaram Sujaji Chaudhari

2. Paklidevi Rajaram Chaudhari ...Applicants ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR

Versus

The State of Maharashtra & Anr.

...Respondents

ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date: 2026.01.07 19:51:33 +0530 Mr. Vikram Sutar a/w Brijesh R. Jaiswar, for the Applicants. Ms. R. V. Newton, APP, for the Respondent-State. P.S.I. Ganesh Landge, Chikhali Police Station, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, present.

CORAM:

MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED:

07 JANUARY 2026 PC:- 1.

Heard Mr. Sutar, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants and Ms. Newton, learned APP for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra.

2.

By the present Anticipatory Bail Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicants are seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.138 of 2025 registered with the Chikhali Police Station, PimpriChinchwad, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 108, 85, 115(2), 352 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3.

It is the submission of Mr. Sutar, learned Counsel for the Applicants that the Charge-sheet is already filed against Accused No.1 who is the son of the present Applicants. He therefore submits that the investigation is substantially completed. He submits that the Applicants will cooperate with the investigation and therefore the Anticipatory Bail Application be granted. He further submits that, on 5th January 2026, he could not remain present in the Court as he was not aware that the matter was listed on the board. He further submits that earlier Anticipatory Bail Application was withdrawn as the learned Trial Court has granted regular bail to Accused No.1 who is the husband of the deceased and as the Charge-sheet was filed, the same was withdrawn to again approach the learned Trial Court in view of change of circumstances. He therefore submits that on earlier occasion the earlier Anticipatory Bail Application was not argued on merits. He, therefore, submits that the Anticipatory Bail Application be granted.

4.

On the other hand, Ms. Newton, learned APP, strongly opposes the Anticipatory Bail Application. She submits that the deceased was subjected to harassment and cruelty and therefore

the deceased died by suicide. He, therefore, submitted that the offence is very serious and the Anticipatory Bail Application be dismissed.

5.

The prosecution case is set out in Paragraph Nos.2 and 3 of the Order dated 11th July 2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Pune, in Criminal Bail Application No.4288 of 2025 filed by the Original Accused No.1-Suresh Rajaram Chaudhari, which reads as under :- "2] Case of prosecution :

On 15/03/2025 informant Achalaram Chaudhari lodged complaint to the Chikhali Police Station. He alleged that deceased Geeta is his daughter. On 06/05/2011 he has performed her marriage with Suresh Chaudhari. There was dispute between them hence in February 2015 her daughter has performed second marriage with Jagdish Chaudhari. Accused Suresh has also performed second marriage. Deceased Geeta resided with Jagdish for 5-6 years. Due to the poor economic condition she returned to his house at Pune.

3] Informant further alleged that on 06/08/2024 deceased Geeta left his house. He came to know that deceased Geeta is residing with her first husband Suresh. On 12/03/2025 Geeta made a phone call to him and told that her in-laws are harassing her. On 14/03/2025 Geeta could not came for 'Holi' festival. During inquiry she told him that her in-law has confined her in a room. Thereafter, at 10.00 pm accused Suresh told him that Geeta has committed suicide. Based on this information police has registered the crime against the accused."

6.

It is required to be noted that the allegations against the present Applicants are that they have not allowed the deceased to participate in the 'Holi' festival on 14th March 2025 and therefore the deceased died by suicide at 10:00 p.m. on 14th March 2025. The other allegation is that the Applicants were treating the deceased with cruelty.

7.

Perusal of the record shows that the marriage between the deceased and Accused No.1 - Suresh took place on 6th May 2011. However, in or about February 2015, they separated from each other and both the deceased and Accused No.1 performed second marriage. However, the deceased left the house of her second husband on 6th August 2024 and went to reside with Accused No.1 i.e. first husband and his parents. The allegations regarding the harassment are made on two occasions i.e. on 12th March 2025 and 14th March 2025.

8.

In any case, the Charge-sheet has already been filed as far as Accused No.1 is concerned. Thus, investigation is substantially completed. Even as far as the present Applicants are concerned,

they are aged 58 and 55 years, respectively and the Applicant No.2 is a woman.

9.

Mr. Sutar, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants submits that the Applicants will cooperate with the investigation. 10.

Accordingly, by imposing conditions, the case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail.

11.

In view thereof, the following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant No.1 - Rajaram Sujaji Chaudhari and Applicant No.2 - Paklidevi Rajaram Chaudhari, in connection with CR No.138 of 2025 registered with the Chikhali Police Station, Pimpri Chinchwad, 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 on 14th January 2026 between 11:00 am to

02:00 pm and thereafter as and when necessary 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.

(f) The Applicants shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court.

12.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of accordingly. [MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]