Vijay Ganesh Bhandalkar v. The State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 381 OF 2026 Vijay Ganesh Bhandalkar ...Applicant Vs.

The State of Maharashtra ....Respondent _________________________________________________________________ Mr. Rahul Dhaigude a/w. Mr. Sanket Mane, Advocate for the Applicant. Mr. S.R. Agarkar, APP for Respondent-State.

_________________________________________________________________ VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM by VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM Date:

2026.03.12 12:05:54 +0530

CORAM

: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 6th MARCH, 2026.

P.C. :

1.

Heard learned counsel for the Applicant and learned APP for the State.

2.

By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.29 of 2025 registered with Wadgaon Nimbalkar Police Station, Dist. Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 103(1) 238, 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

3.

It is prosecution's case that on 14/01/2025,Applicant and coaccused murdered minor son of the Applicant by strangulating him on the ground that he was not doing study, 4.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that Applicant is father of the deceased. There is no evidence to show that Applicant murdered the deceased. Applicant is behind bars more than one

year. He has no antecedents. Prosecution case is based on circumstantial evidence. The co-accused have been released on bail and requested to allow the application.

5.

It is contention of learned APP that Applicant murdered his own son as he was not doing study. The age of the deceased was nine years. After murder without informing to the police, the Applicant was performing last rites of the deceased. But due to the intervention of police, it came to know that deceased was murdered by the Applicant. Applicant willfully hiding the death of the deceased. If Applicant is released on bail, he may abscond or threaten the prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the application.

6.

I have heard both learned counsel. Perused charge-sheet and documents produced on record.

7.

Prosecution case is based on circumstantial evidence. Applicant is behind bars more than one year. The co-accused have been released on bail. The applicant has no antecedents. To prove role of the Applicant, evidence is required.

8.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant- Vijay Ganesh Bhandalkar be released on bail in Crime No.39 of 2025 registered with Wadgaon Nimbalkar Police Station,

Dist. Pune, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and/or influence the prosecution witnesses.

(iii) The Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order. (iv) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when required.

(v) Bail Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)