Khandu Shahaji Sirsat v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1566 OF 2026 VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM Khandu Shahaji Sirsat ...Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra and anr.
...Respondents
by VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM Date:
2026.05.07 20:20:15 +0530 _________________________________________________________________ Ms. Shubhangi Parulekar (thr. VC), Advocate for Applicant. Mr. S.R. Agarkar, APP for Respondent-State.
Ms. Vrunda Surve, Advocate for Respondent No.2. PSI Saurabh Patil, Kalewadi Police Station present. _________________________________________________________________
CORAM
: SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.
DATE : 4th May, 2026.
P.C. :
1.
Leave to file Vakalatnama on behalf of Respondent No.2. 2.
Heard learned counsel for the Applicant and learned APP for the State.
3.
By this application, the applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No. 1131 of 2024 registered with Wakad Police Station for the offence punishable under Sections 376, 376(2) (F), 354 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short 'IPC').
4.
It is prosecution's case that in the year December, 2022, Applicant while bathing to the victim, outraged her modesty and after 4 to 5 days of the said incident, sexually assaulted the victim, who was 13
years' at the time of incident. Applicant is father of the victim. 5.
It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that there is two years' delay in lodging the complaint. In the complaint, it is alleged that said complaint was given when the friend of the first informant encouraged her to file the complaint. Thereafter the first informant lodged the complaint against the boyfriend alleging sexual assault. Applicant is behind bars around one year and seven months. He has no antecedent and requested to allow the application.
6.
It is contention of learned APP that Applicant sexually assaulted his own daughter, who was 13 years' old at the time of incident. If he is released on bail, he may threaten the victim and prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the application.
7.
It is contention of learned counsel for Respondent No.2 that she has no objection for allowing the bail application. 8.
I have heard all learned counsel. Perused charge sheet and documents produced on record. There is two year's delay in lodging the complaint. No reason is given for delay in lodging the complaint. The applicant is behind bars around one year and seven months. There is no progress in the trial. It may take time to conclude the trial. 9.
Considering these facts, I pass following order:
ORDER
(i) The Applicant- Khandu Shahaji Sirsat be released on bail in Crime No. 1131 of 2024 registered with Wakad Police Station, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.
(ii) The Applicant shall attend the concerned police station, as and when called.
(iii) The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and/or influence the prosecution witnesses.
(iv) The Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order. (v) Bail Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. (SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)