Rajendra Krushna Sankpal v. State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

by GAYATRI RAJENDRA SHIMPI Date: 2026.05.05 15:39:15 +0530 GAYATRI RAJENDRA SHIMPI CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 294 OF 2026 Rajendra Krushna Sankpal ... Applicant Versus.

The State of Maharashtra & Anr.

... Respondents ---- Ms. Bhagyashri Mangale i/b Ms. Suvarna Yadav, Advocates for Applicant.

Ms. Vilasini Balasubramanian, Amicus Curiae.

Mr. Harshvardhan Suryavanshi a/w Mr. Ranveer Singh Solanki, Advocates for Respondent No. 2.

Ms. Rajeshree Newton, APP for Respondent - State. Mr. Govind Kute - PSI, APMC Police Station.

------- CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.

DATE : 4th MAY, 2026 P.C. :

1.

Heard, Ms. Bhagyashri Mangale learned Advocate for the Applicant, Ms. Rajeshree Newton learned APP for Respondent No. 1 - State, Mr. Harshvardhan Suryavanshi learned Advocate for Respondent No. 2 and Ms. Vilasini Balasubramanian learned Advocate appointed under the Legal Aid Scheme.

2.

By the present Application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicant seeks pre-arrest bail in connection with Crime No. 648 of 2025 registered with the APMC Police Station, Thane, for offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 79, 85, 115(2), 352, 351(2), and 3(5) of the BNS.

3.

The Applicant is the father-in-law of the Respondent No. 2 (Complainant). The allegations made by the Respondent No. 2 in the impugned FIR against the Applicant are of inappropriate touch.

4.

Ms. Bhagyashri Mangale learned Advocate for the Applicant, submits that apart from the allegations of inappropriate touch, there are no further allegations against the Applicant. She submits that the allegation are fasle. She further submits that the dispute is essentially between the Applicant's son and Respondent No. 2. She submits that the Applicant is unnecessarily dragged into the controversy between husband and wife. 5.

Ms. Rajeshree Newton, learned APP for the State, submits that the allegations against the Applicant are of

inappropriate touch.

6.

Mr. Harshvardhan Suryavanshi learned Advocate for the Respondent No. 2, submits that the allegations in the impugned FIR against the Applicant are of inappropriate touch. He submits that the Respondent No. 2 intends to file appropriate proceedings before the Court in the context of further investigation in the matter. He submits that the right of Respondent No. 2 to file appropriate application be left open.

7.

Ms. Bhagyashri Mangale, learned Advocate for the Applicant, submits that if the law permits, it is always open to the Respondent No. 2 to file an application for further investigation. 8.

The allegations against the Applicant in the FIR are of inappropriate touch. As they stand, the allegations are vague. As rightly submitted by Ms. Bhagyashri Mangale learned Advocate for the Applicant, there are no other allegations in the FIR against the Applicant. Prima facie, the dispute appears to be between the Applicant's son and his daughter-in-law. Custodial interrogation of the Applicant in this case is not made out.

9.

In view of the above, this Application is allowed on the following terms :- (a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant in FIR No.648 of 2025 registered with APMC Police Station, Thane the Applicant shall be released on bail on furnishing a PR bond in the sum of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two local sureties in the like amount.

(b) Applicant shall report to the Investigating Officer, APMC Police Station, Pune Rural, as and when required by the Investigating Officer.

(c) Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person/s acquainted with the facts of the case to dissuade such person/s from disclosing the facts to the Court or any police officer.

(d) Applicant shall not tamper with evidence in any manner.

(e) Applicant shall provide the Investigating Officer with his residential address along with proof, his contact number, email and must inform the Investigating

Officer of any changes to this information from time to time.

(f) Applicant shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in the process of investigation of the present Crime. 10.

Anticipatory Bail Application No. 294 of 2026 is disposed of.

(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)