Sheela Ramesh Ankhule v. State Of Maharashtra Thr Pso., Umarkhed Dist. Yavatmal

2026:BHC-NAG:5888

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.

CRIMINAL APPLICATION (ABA) NO.185 OF 2026 Sheela Ramesh Ankhule Vs. State of Maharashtra __________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders.

and Registrar's Orders.

Shri J.D. Bastian, Advocate for applicant.

Ms M.R. Kavimandan, APP for non-applicant/State. CORAM : RAJNISH R. VYAS, J.

DATE : 16.04.2026.

1.

Apprehending the arrest in connection with Crime No.611/2025 registered with Police Station, Umarkhed, District Yavatmal for the offences punishable under Sections 80(2), 108, 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, "BNS"), the applicant/original accused no.1 in First Information Report has approached this Court. The applicant is a mother-in-law of the deceased Pranjali.

2.

The First Information Report was registered at the behest of informant - Gajanan Gulabrao Sapkal / father of the deceased. In all four accused were named in First Information Report.

3.

In brief, it is the case of the prosecution that the marriage of the daughter of the informant namely Pranjali was solemnized with accused no.2 - Jayesh in First Information Report on 24.05.2023. It was alleged that all the accused persons used to ill-treat said Pranjali and had

asked her to commit suicide. It was further alleged that sister-in-law of the deceased used to telephonically informed original accused no.2 in First Information Report to harass said Pranjali. It was further alleged in the First Information Report that accused no.2 used to humiliate the informant by saying that accused no.1/Sheela be treated like a queen, whereas, the deceased was a servant. Various comments in that regard were also passed. It was further alleged that on several occasions the amount was demanded from the deceased. The deceased was further not allowed to speak with the family members. It is due to aforesaid harassement, it is alleged in the First Information Report that said Pranjali had committed suicide by hanging on 09.09.2025. 4.

The learned counsel for the applicant submitted that so far as original accused no.2-Jayesh is concerned, he is arrested, subjected to police custody and was granted bail. So far as original accused nos.3 and 4 i.e. sister-in-law and her husband are concerned, they are released on anticipatory bail. According to him, if the allegations against the applicant and the allegations made against original accused nos.3 and 4 are perused, it will reveal that those are almost similar.

5.

Per contra, the learned APP has submitted that Pranjali has committed suicide within two years of marriage due to harassment meted out by the original accused no.1/present applicant. She submitted that though charge-

sheet is already filed, considering prima facie case against the applicant, her application may be rejected. 6.

With the assistance of the respective counsels, I have gone through the papers which are produced by the learned APP. I have also given thoughtful consideration to the arguments advanced.

7.

First Information Report dated 12.09.2025 shows that after marriage said Pranjali was not treated properly and several comments were passed against her. She was humiliated also. The reference is also made in the First Information Report that the mother-in-law / present applicant so also original accused nos.3 and 4 have demanded the amount and on that count had quarrel with him. It is pertinent to mention here that the original accused no.2/Jayesh is already arrested and released on bail. So far as original accused nos.3 and 4 are concerned, they are also released on anticipatory bail. The investigation in the crime is already completed and charge-sheet is already filed before the jurisdictional court. The present applicant is a lady against whom the vague allegations are made. First Information Report and statements recorded during the course of investigation if perused would reveal that same are bereft of any details qua time, period etc. The nature of allegations against the present applicant prima facie fails to make out any case against the applicant. As the investigation

is already completed, I am inclined to pass the following order :

ORDER

(i) The application is allowed and disposed of.

(ii) In the event of arrest in connection with Crime No.611/2025 registered with Police Station, Umarkhed, District Yavatmal for the offences punishable under Sections 80(2), 108, 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 , applicant - Sheela Ramesh Ankhule shall be released on bail on furnishing a PR bond of 55,000/- [Rupees Fifty Five ₹ Thousand only] with one solvent surety in the like amount. (iii) The applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when called by the investigating officer. (iv) The applicant shall cooperate with the investigating agency and shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence or influence the witnesses directly or indirectly.

(v) The applicant shall not leave India without prior permission of this Court.

(Rajnish R. Vyas, J.) Wagh