Vikas Devdas Waghmare v. The State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 146 OF 2026 Vikas Devdas Waghmare ... Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra & Anr.

... Respondents *** Mr. Somnath Thengal for the Applicant.

Mr. S. H. Yadav, A. P. P. for the Respondent-State. ***

CORAM

: M.W. CHANDWANI, J.

DATE : 20th April, 2026.

P. C. :

1.

The Applicant is apprehending arrest in connection with Crime No. 46/2026 dated 23.02.2026, registered with Gokul Shirgaon Police Station, District Kolhapur, for the offences punishable under Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act, 1959.

2.

Police received secret information that co-accused, Rushikesh @ Sonya Ramu Kurade, would come near Shahu Toll Naka, Ujalaiwadi Flyover, to sell a fake revolver. Accordingly, a trap was laid. At about 6:40 p.m., the said coaccused Rushikesh was apprehended. One revolver was recovered from him, which was seized. A panchanama was conducted accordingly. On the complaint of Police Constable Mahendra Balu Korvi, the aforesaid offence TALLE SHUBHAM ASHOKRAO came to be registered. During the course of investigation, the involvement of the present Applicant came to be revealed.

TALLE SHUBHAM ASHOKRAO Date: 2026.04.20 17:34:44 +0530

3.

It appears that co-accused Rushikesh, in his confessional statement, has stated that the said revolver was given to him by the present Applicant, thereby revealing the Applicant's involvement. 4.

It appears from the FIR that the revolver has already been recovered by laying a trap, which indicates that a major part of the investigation is already completed, and nothing further is required to be seized from the present Applicant.

5.

As regards the submission of the learned APP with respect to criminal antecedents the Applicant is concerned the same cannot be the sole ground to reject the application for anticipatory bail, if otherwise a case is made out. 6.

Considering the aforesaid aspects, particularly that custodial interrogation of the Applicant may not be required, a case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. Hence, the following order: i) Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed.

ii) In the event of arrest of Applicant-Vikas Devdas Waghmare in connection with Crime No. 46/2026 registered with Gokul Shirgaon Police Station, District Kolhapur, for offences punishable under Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act, 1959, he shall be released on bail upon furnishing a PR bond of 25,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount. ₹

iii) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station every Tuesday and Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon for a period of two weeks and shall cooperate in the investigation. iv) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not pressurize or influence the prosecution witnesses in any manner.

[ M.W. CHANDWANI, J. ]