Shobhabai Karbhari Allore v. The State Of Maharashtra And Another

1 906(iii).ABA-225-2026.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 225 OF 2026 ARUN DEVCHAND KHAIRNAR

VERSUS

THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANOTHER WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 602 OF 2026 IN ABA/225/2026 ...

Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Yogesh Murlidhar Patil APP for Respondents/State : Mr. P. D. Patil Advocate for Applicant in Cri.Appln. : Mr. Yash A. Jadhav (Assist to P.P.) ...

CORAM : MEHROZ K. PATHAN, J.

DATE : 12th FEBRUARY 2026 PER COURT :

1.

Heard.

2.

Issue notice to the Respondent, returnable on 11.03.2026. Learned APP waives service of notice for Respondent/State. 3.

The Criminal Application No.602/2026 is filed by the complainant who submitted a complaint to the Education Department regarding irregularities in the disbursement of scholarship funds.

4.

For the reasons stated in the Criminal Application No.602/2026, the same is allowed.

2 906(iii).ABA-225-2026.doc 5.

The learned Counsel for the Applicant Mr. Patil ssubmits that the Applicant was an agent of the school run by the Trust, which is alleged to have misappropriated scholarship funds meant for the welfare of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students. The Applicant assumed charge as Headmaster on 01.07.2024, whereas the offence is alleged to have taken place during the period from 01.01.2010 to 30.06.2024. The erstwhile Headmistress, Surekha, who was serving in that capacity from June 2010 until 01.06.2024, has already been granted protection by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Dhule, by way of anticipatory bail vide order dated 06.01.2026. The Applicant thereafter approached the learned Sessions Court, Dhule, seeking anticipatory bail and was granted interim protection vide order dated 12.01.2026.

The said interim order continued to operate until the final order dated 31.01.2026, whereby the bail application came to be rejected. The learned Counsel further submits that the Applicant has no criminal antecedents and has already retired from the school after successfully completing his tenure in November 2025. The Applicant has cooperated with the investigation and remains willing to cooperate further and attend before the Investigating Officer as and when directed by this Hon'ble Court. Hence, it is prayed that he may be protected.

6.

Thus, taking into consideration the aforesaid submissions and particularly the fact that the Applicant was protected by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Dhule vide its order dated

3 906(iii).ABA-225-2026.doc 12.01.2026 in Criminal Bail Application No.31/2026, I am inclined to protect the Applicant until the investigation papers are received, however, subject to certain conditions. Hence the following order :

ORDER

(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant - Arun Devchand Khairnar in connection with Crime No.767/2025 registered with Dhule Taluka Police Station, District Dhule for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 409 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code, he be released on bail on furnishing P.R. bond of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousands) with two solvent sureties in the like amount, on the following conditions :

(b) The Applicant is directed to attend Dhule Taluka Police Station, District Dhule on 17th and 24th of February, 2026 and 3rd March of 2026 between 11:00 am. to 01:00 pm. and co-operate with the Investigating Officer.

(c) The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and shall appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required, apart from the days already mentioned above.

(d) The Investigating Officer shall make the investigation papers available for perusal of this Court.

7.

Stand over to 11.03.2026.

MEHROZ K. PATHAN JUDGE NAJEEB..