Snehal Prashant Chavan v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1089 OF 2026 Snehal Prashant Chavan ...Applicant

VERSUS

State Of Maharashtra

...Respondent

____________________________________________________________ by NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE Date: 2026.04.30 15:06:59 +0530 NILAM SANTOSH KAMBLE Mr.Chitanya Purankar, for the Applicant.

Ms.R.D. Humane, APP for Respondent-State.

____________________________________________________________

CORAM

: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 28th APRIL 2026 P.C. :

.

By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.120 of 2023 registered with Bhosari Police Station, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 406 and 409 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC' for short) read with Section 3 of Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999 ('MPID Act' for short). 2.

It is prosecution's case that Applicant and co-accused cheated the First Informant and other investors by inducing them to invest the amount in their company with assurance that they will give handsome returns on it. It is alleged that the Applicant did not return amount nor any returns on it.

3.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that the total fraud amount was Rs.39,85,000/-, out of which the Applicant has returned Rs.20,85,000/- to the investors, prior to the registration of the FIR and after registration of the FIR remaining Rs.19 lakhs has been returned to the investors. The Applicant is a lady and she is behind bars for more than eighteen months, and requested to allow the Application. 4.

It is contention of learned APP that no money has bee returned by the Applicant to the investors. If the Applicant released on bail, she may abscond or threaten First Informant and prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the Application.

5.

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

6.

The Applicant has returned the half of the fraud amount to the investors before registering the FIR and after registration of the FIR, she has returned the remaining amount. The Applicant is behind bars for more than eighteen months. The Applicant is lady and has no antecedents. Considering these facts, and I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant be released on bail in Crime No.120 of 2023 registered with Bhosari Police Station, Pimpri

Chinchwad, 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.)