Vishal Sunil Alias Bapu Sonji v. The State Of Maharashtra

2026:BHC-AUG:2805

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD BAIL APPLICATION NO. 11 OF 2026 VISHAL SUNIL ALIAS BAPU SONJI

VERSUS

THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA ...

Advocate for Applicant : Mr. V. D. Sapkal, Senior Advocate i/b. Mr. Sandip R. Sapkal and Mr.Yash A. Jadhav APP for Respondent : Ms. R. R. Tandale ...

CORAM : SACHIN S. DESHMUKH, J.

DATE : 22-01-2026 PER COURT:- 1.

The applicant has approached this Court seeking regular bail in connection with FIR bearing Crime No.22 of 2025 dated 15.02.2025, registered with Tamalwadi Police Station, District - Dharashiv for the offences punishable under section 8(c), 21(b), 27, 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The applicant is arrested on 15.08.2025. 2.

The learned senior counsel for the applicant referred to the report and submitted that the informant received secret information that certain individuals were carrying a prohibited narcotic substance. Accordingly, the informant relayed this information to the Police Sub-Inspector and a trap was planned. The police party then proceeded to the designated location at Tamalwadi Toli Naka. Upon arrival, a suspicious vehicle was found parked on the roadside. It was noticed that three persons were

sitting inside the vehicle. The individuals were questioned about their presence there. On inquiry, the accused persons identified themselves as Amit alias Chimiya Ashokrao Argade, Yuvraj Devidas Dalvi, and Sandip Sanjay Rathod. Sandip Sanjay Rathod was then called to the spot. The car was secured on the roadside. A forensic van, accompanied by an expert, arrived at the scene. The accused persons were subsequently found to be in possession of 45 grams of MD (mephedrone).

3.

Accordingly, the authorities communicated the seizure of the contraband. A notice was issued to the individuals present under Section 50 of the NDPS Act. In their presence, the 45 grams of contraband-specifically, a white-colored powder-was seized. From this quantity, two samples of 1 gram each were drawn for chemical analysis. At that time, the attending forensic experts expressed the opinion that the seized substance appeared to be MD (mephedrone). Consequently, the FIR was registered against the present applicants and other co-accused.

4.

The learned Senior Counsel for the applicants further submits that the chargesheet has been filed and that the applicants are falsely implicated in the alleged offense. He further submits that every alleged transaction regarding the use of a narcotic substance relates solely to the accused persons' individual use and that they have not availed any monetary benefits from drug transactions. As such, they cannot be regarded

as consumers, peddlers, or traffickers.

5.

Considering the fact that the quantity of the seized substance does not exceed the commercial quantity and is instead a small quantity, the applicant is entitled to relief. Furthermore, a coordinate Bench of this Court has already granted bail to other accused individuals in similar matters, specifically in Bail Application No. 1192 of 2025, 1541 of 2025 (Justice Arun R. Pedneker), and 961 of 2025 (Justice Sanjay A. Deshmukh), among others.

6.

This Court has also ordered the release of other co-accused persons in Bail Application No. 2185 of 2025 and 2199 of 2025. Therefore, a strong case is made out for the grant of bail to the present applicant on the principle of parity, a point which the learned A.P.P. faily does not dispute. The further detention of the present applicant would, therefore, be unjustified. 7.

Hence, the order:-

ORDER

(i) Bail Application is allowed.

(ii) Applicant, Vishal Sunil @ Bapu Sonji, be released on regular bail, upon their furnishing P.R. bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/- (Fifty Thousand) with one or two local solvent sureties each in the like amount, in connection with Crime No.22 of 2025 dated 15.02.2025, registered with Tamalwadi Police Station, District - Dharashiv, for the offences

punishable under section 8(c), 21(b), 27, 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 on the following conditions :- (a) The applicants shall not contact the informant, in any manner whatsoever, during the pendency of the trial. (b) The applicants shall co-operate with the trial Court and they shall attend each and every date, unless exempted by the trial Court.

(c) The applicants shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and he shall not influence the informant, witnesses and other persons concerned with the case. (d) The applicants, upon being released on bail, shall place on record of the trial Court the details of their Contact Numbers and detailed residential addresses with updates in case of any changes.

(e) In case of violation of any of the aforesaid conditions, the bail granted to the applicants shall be liable to be cancelled.

8.

Needless to state that the observations rendered hereinabove are to the extent of consideration of the bail application and trial court may not get influenced by these observations and shall consider the case/s on the basis of evidence on record and in accordance with law. [SACHIN S. DESHMUKH] JUDGE rrd