Suyash Somnath Ghodke v. State Of Maharashtra And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 214 OF 2026 Suyash Somnath Ghodke ... Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra and anr.

... Respondents *** Mr. Vipul Dushing, Mayur Shinde, Ashok Kazi (through VC) and Shreyash Gavali for the Applicant.

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

CORAM

: M.W. CHANDWANI, J.

DATE : 4th May, 2026.

P. C. :

1.

The Applicant is apprehending arrest in connection with Crime No. 0258 of 2025, registered with Satara Taluka Police Station, District Satara, for offences punishable under Sections 3, 7, and 25 of the Arms Act, 1959 and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 2.

Heard the learned counsels for the parties. I have gone through the case diary.

3.

The police, acting on secret information, laid a trap during which three persons were apprehended. Upon search, one pistol and cartridges were recovered from their possession. During interrogation, the said persons

disclosed that they had purchased the pistol and cartridges from the present Applicant. The police seized the pistol and cartridges and subsequently, an FIR came to be registered against the apprehended persons as well as the present Applicant under the provisions of the Arms Act. 4.

The name of the present Applicant appears in the FIR; however, it is based solely on the statement of the co-accused, who alleged that they had purchased the pistol and cartridges from him. 5.

It appears that the investigation is already completed and the chargesheet has been filed against the other co-accused. Prima facie, there is no material against the Applicant other than the statement of the co-accused. Since, the raid has already been conducted and the pistol and cartridges have been recovered, no custodial interrogation of the Applicant is required. 6.

So far as criminal antecedents of the Applicant are concerned, they cannot be the sole ground for rejecting an application for anticipatory bail, particularly when the prosecution relies only on the confessional statement of the co-accused.

7.

Considering the material available against the Applicant and the fact that the investigation is already completed, a case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. Hence, the following order: ::ORDER::

a) The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed.

b) In the event of arrest in connection with Crime No. 0258 of 2025, registered with Satara Taluka Police Station, District Satara, for aforesaid offences, the Applicant-Suyash Somnath Ghodke shall be released on bail upon furnishing a P.R. bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount.

c) The Applicant shall attend the concerned police station every Wednesday and Sunday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon for a period of three weeks and shall cooperate in the investigation. d) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence or threaten the prosecution witnesses and shall fully cooperate in the investigation.

f) With these directions, the Application stands disposed of. [ M.W. CHANDWANI, J. ] Digitally signed by TALLE SHUBHAM ASHOKRAO Date:

2026.05.05 14:20:05 +0530 TALLE SHUBHAM ASHOKRAO