Prema Basavraj Navale v. The State Of Maharashtra And ANR.

1 913-ABA 264-26.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.264 OF 2026 Sanjay Singh ... Applicant V/s.

State of Maharashtra ... Respondent ----- Mr. Mangesh Patel for the Applicant.

Ms. Supriya I. Kak, APP for the Respondent-State. API Pratap Desai, Gamdevi PS is present.

----- CORAM :

N.R. BORKAR, J.

DATE :

30TH JANUARY 2026 P.C. :

1.

This is an Application for anticipatory bail. 2.

The Applicant is apprehending his arrest in Crime No.994 of 2025 registered with Gamdevi Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 3.

The allegations against the Applicant, who was working in the house of first informant, are of theft of ornaments worth Rs.33,20,000/-. 4.

I have heard Learned Counsel for the Applicant and Learned APP for the Respondent-State.

5.

Learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant has nothing to do with the alleged crime. It is submitted that the Applicant was working with the first informant for 27 years. It is submitted that there are no other criminal antecedents against the present Applicant. Mugdha

2 913-ABA 264-26.doc 6.

On the other hand, Learned APP for the Respondent-State submits that on 26th December 2025 all of a sudden the Applicant left the house of the first informant and lateron the gold and silver ornaments were found to be missing. It is submitted that the custodial interrogation of the Applicant is necessary to recover the stolen articles. It is submitted that considering the nature of crime, the Applicant may not be released on anticipatory bail.

7.

I have perused the papers of investigation. Except the statement of the first informant, there is no other material to infer the involvement of the present Applicant in the crime in question. There are no other criminal antecedents against the present Applicant. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, I am inclined to release the Applicant on anticipatory bail. Hence, the following order:-

ORDER

i.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed. ii.

In the event of the arrest of the Applicant in Crime No.994 of 2025 registered with Gamdevi Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, he shall be released on bail on furnishing a PR Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only) with one or two sureties in the like amount. iii. The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when called for by the investigating officer and shall cooperate in the investigation. 8.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

(N.R. BORKAR, J.) Mugdha