Lakhan Alias Bapu Jyotiba Savant v. The State Of Maharashtra And ORS.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 240 OF 2026 Nitin Ashok Sonawane ... Applicant/s
Versus
The State of Maharashtra and Anr.
... Respondent/s _________________________________________________________________ Mr. Aniket Nikam along with Ms. Abhilasha Pawar and Mr. Sumit Patil, Advocate for the Applicant.
Mr. S. S. Pednekar, APP for Respondent No.1-State. Mr. Amol A. Shinde, Advocate for Respondent No.2. _________________________________________________________________
CORAM
: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.
DATE : 4th MARCH, 2026.
P.C. :
1.
By this application, the applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No. 555 of 2025 registered with Panchavati Police Station, District Nashik, for the offences punishable under Sections 354 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 and Sections 8 and 12 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
2.
It is prosecution's case that the applicant outraged the modesty of three daughters of the first informant.
3.
It is contention of learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant is behind bars for more than three months. The investigation is Digitally signed by SHUBHADA SHANKAR KADAM Date:
2026.03.06 18:30:48 +0530 SHUBHADA SHANKAR KADAM completed and charge sheet has been filed. The applicant has no
antecedents. One of the victims is married with the applicant and she is staying with the applicant. Hence requested to allow the application. 4.
It is contention of learned APP along with learned counsel for Respondent No. 2, that the father of the applicant has filed false complaint under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 against the first informant and her entire family members to counter the present FIR. If the applicant is released on bail, he may file false complaint against the first informant and her family members and requested to reject the application. 5.
I have heard all learned counsel, perused charge sheet and documents produced on record. The allegations against the applicant are of outraging modesty of daughters of the first informant. The applicant is behind bars for more than three months. The investigation is completed and charge sheet has been filed. The applicant has no antecedents. Considering these facts I pass the following order:
ORDER
(i) The applicant be enlarged on bail in Crime No. 555 of 2025 registered with Panchavati Police Station, District Nashik, on executing P.R.Bond in the sum of Rs.30,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount.
(ii) The applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when required.
(iii) The applicant shall not enter the jurisdiction of Panchavati Police Station till recording of evidence of the first informant and vicitms, except for attending the court dates. (iv) The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or attempt to influence or contact the complainant, witnesses or any person concerned with the case.
The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms and is accordingly disposed of.
6.
It is made clear that the above observations are made only for the purpose of granting bail and the Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits in accordance with law and uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.
7.
All concerned to act on the authenticated copy of this order. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)