Palash Sahebrao Sathe v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 541 OF 2026 Palash Sahebrao Sathe ....Applicant

VERSUS

State Of Maharashtra And Anr.

....Respondents ____________________________________________________________ by NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE Date:

2026.04.21 11:01:43 +0530 Mr.Vipul V. Dushing a/w Mr.Ashraf Kazi, Mr.Tanmay Kate, Mr.Prajyot Shinde i/b Swanand Govindwar, for the Applicant. Mr.S.R. Agarkar, APP for Respondent-State.

Mr.Yuvraj Dhole, for Respondent No.2.

Mr.Vijay Thakar, PI Yerwada Police Station.

NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE ____________________________________________________________

CORAM

: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 17th APRIL 2026 P.C. :

.

By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.402 of 2025 registered with Yerwada Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 74, 75(2), 76, 79, 115(2), 351(2) and subsequently added Sections 64, 64(2)(F), 64(2)(M) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 8, 12 and subsequently added Sections 4,5(L) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ('POCSO' for short). 2.

It is prosecution's case that during the period of March-2023, July2023 and September-2024, the Applicant outraged the modesty of four victims.

3.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that the Applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. Out of the four victims, one victim is daughter of sister-in-law of the Applicant and two victims are sisters of the Applicant's wife. The Applicant has martial dispute with his wife. The Applicant is behind bars for more than ten months. The Applicant has no antecedents. There is no progress in trial, and requested to allow the Application.

4.

It is contention of learned APP along with learned counsel for Respondent No.2 that the Applicant outraged the modesty of the victims who are minors. If the Applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten Victim and prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the Application. 5.

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

6.

The allegations against the Applicant are that he outraged modesty of the victims. The Applicant is behind bars for more than ten months. The Applicant has no antecedents. There is no progress in trial. It may take time to conclude the trial, and I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant be released on bail in Crime No.402 of 2025 registered with Yerwada Police Station, 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) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)