Pankaj Kuldeep Pandhi v. State Of Maharashtra

131-APPLN-74-2026 (CR).doc S.S.Kilaje IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 74 OF 2026 Pankaj Kuldeep Pandhi ... Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra ... Respondent by SONALI SATISH KILAJE Date:

2026.04.04 10:16:00 +0700 SONALI SATISH KILAJE _________________________________________________________________ Mr. Chirag Hathiramani a/w. Ms. Monica Makwana and Mr. Rishikesh Mishra i/b. Mr. Yogesh Mohan Devnani, Advocates for the Applicant. Ms. Gauri Rao, APP for the Respondent-State.

PI - Mr. Sachin Shirke, EOW, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, present. _________________________________________________________________

CORAM

: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 1st APRIL, 2026.

P.C. :

1.

The applicant has challenged the order dated 10.02.2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, on the ground that the learned Sessions Judge has allowed the bail application of the applicant but directed to deposit Rs.8 lakhs in the Court as one of the condition.

2.

It is contention of learned counsel for the applicant that the Trial Court should not have imposed condition to deposit the amount. The co-accused has been released on bail by this Court and requested to allow the application.

3.

It is contention of learned APP that as per view of Hon'ble Apex Court, condition of deposit the amount cannot be passed.

131-APPLN-74-2026 (CR).doc S.S.Kilaje 4.

I have heard both the learned counsel. Perused impugned order. While passing the order the learned Trial Court has observed that "the co-accused having a similar role were released on bail after recovery of the amount shown to their credit. As per the police report, an amount of Rs.8,00,000/- appears to be credited in account of the applicant. On that ground the Trial Court has allowed the bail application and directed the applicant to deposit Rs.8,00,000/- before the Court. I am unable to understand the observations of the Trial Court, as per the view of Hon'ble Apex Court, the accused shall not be released on the ground of depositing the amount. The Trial Court should have passed the bail order on its own merit.

5.

In view of above, I pass following order:

ORDER

(i) The Application is partly allowed.

(ii) The bail order passed by learned Sessions Court in Criminal Bail application No. 12 of 2026 is quashed and set aside. The learned Trial Court shall decide the bail application of the applicant on its own merit without directing deposit of any amount.

6.

The Application is disposed of.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)