Sunil Maruti Loni v. The State Of Maharashtra And ANR.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 951 OF 2026 Sunil Maruti Loni ....Applicant versus The State of Maharashtra and anr.
....Respondents _________________________________________________________________ Mr. Onkar Chaudhari i/b. Mr. Shailesh Kharat, Advocate for Applicant. Mr. S. R. Agarkar, APP for Respondent No.1-State. PSI-Vishal Pawar, Chinchwad Police Station, present. _________________________________________________________________
CORAM
: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.
DATE : 23rd APRIL, 2026.
P.C. :
1.
By this application, the applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No. 276 of 2024 registered with Chinchwad Police Station, District Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 74 and 333 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Section 7 and 8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Sections 3(1)(w)(i)(ii) of the Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 2.
It is prosecution's case that on 6th July 2024, around 11:15 a.m., the applicant outraged the modesty of the niece of the first informant, who was 16 years old.
SHUBHADA SHANKAR KADAM 3.
It is contention of learned counsel for the applicant that the SHUBHADA SHANKAR KADAM Date: 2026.04.27 15:07:45 +0530 applicant is behind bars for one year and nine months, and there is no
progress in the trial. The maximum punishment for the offence committed by the applicant is five years. It may take time to conclude the trial. Hence, requested to allow the application.
4.
It is contention of learned APP along with learned counsel for respondent No. 2 that the applicant has 11 antecedents. If the applicant is released on bail, he may threaten the victim and prosecution witnesses. Hence, requested to reject the application.
5.
I have heard both learned counsel, perused charged sheet and the documents produced on record. The applicant is behind bars for more than one year and nine months. The maximum sentence for the offence committed by the applicant is five years. There is no progress in the trial. It may take time to conclude the trial. Considering these facts, I pass following order:
ORDER
(i) The applicant be enlarged on bail in Crime No. 276 of 2024 registered with Chinchwad Police Station, District Pune, 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 Chinchwad Police Station till recording of evidence of the victim and the first informant.
(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.)