Vaibhav Govind Dhage And Others v. The State Of Maharashtra And Another

911-Cri-Apeal-240-2026.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD 911 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 240 OF 2026 VAIBHAV GOVIND DHAGE AND OTHERS

VERSUS

THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANOTHER ....

Mr. V. D. Gunale, Advocate for the Appellants Mr. D. B. Bhange, APP for Respondent No.1 - Stat ....

CORAM : Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, J.

DATE : April 10, 2026 PER COURT :- 1.

Heard the learned counsel for the appellants at length. 2.

By the present appeal under Section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the appellants / accused take exception to the order dated 20.03.2026, passed in Criminal Bail Application No.26 of 2026, by the learned Special Judge, Bhokar, District Nanded and thereby declined to release the appellants / accused on anticipatory bail in Crime No. 39 of 2026, registered with Umri Police Station, District Nanded on 04.03.2026, for the offence punishable under 118(1), 115(2), 296, 351(2), 351(3), 3(5) of B.N.S., under Sections 3(1)

(( 2 )) 911-Cri-Apeal-240-2026 (r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

3.

On perusal of the F.I.R., it appears that the incident of casteist slur at the hands of the appellants to respondent No.2 / informant occurred in front of a grocery shop in the village, which appears to be in the public view. Therefore, at this juncture, I am not inclined to grant ad-interim anticipatory bail. 4.

Issue notice to the respondents, returnable on 17.04.2026.

5.

In addition to the regular mode, the appellants are permitted to serve respondent No.2 by private mode. 6.

The learned APP waives service of notice on behalf of respondent No.1.

7.

The Investigating Officer to serve respondent No.2. [ Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, J. ] SMS