Gurudas Ravindra Kukade v. The State Of Maharashtra Thr Pso Ps Akot , Akola And ANR.

1 2aba319.2026.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR CRIMINAL APPLICATION (ABA) NO. 319 OF 2026 (Gurudas Ravindra Kukade Vs. The Stte,thr PSO, PS Akot, Dist. Akola and anr) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office Notes, Office Memoramda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders.

and Registrar's Orders.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. S.V. Sirpurkar, Advocate for applicant.

Mr. C.A. Lokhande, APP for non-applicant/State. CORAM: RAJNISH R. VYAS, J.

DATE: 22.04.2026 Heard.

2.

Apprehending arrest, the sole accused in Crime No. 345/2026, dated 6.4.2026, registered with Police Station, Akot, District Akola, for the offences punishable under Sections 64(2) (M), 69 and 308(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 has approached this Court.

3.

Issue notice to the non-applicants, returnable on 29.4.2026.

4.

The learned APP waives notice for non-applicant No.1/State.

5.

The informant is 29 years old, whereas the applicant is 24 years old. Both were known to each other, so also, their families. The complainant was working as a Canal Inspector in the Irrigation Department. The applicant was running a Krushi Seva Kendra. Both were known to each other since 2022. The

2 2aba319.2026.odt friendship thereafter, flourished into a love affair in the year 2025. In the FIR, it is alleged that on 10.3.2025, when both were sitting in a cafe, the applicant told the informant that he likes her and asked her to accompany him to a lodge which the applicant agreed. At that place, they had physical relationship. The applicant then asked the informant not to disclose the incident to anybody. Thereafter, on 12.3.2025, 9.4.2025 and 15.11.2025 under the pretext of her performing marriage, physical relationships were developed. In the month of December 2025, when the informant asked whether applicant was ready to marry, the applicant refused and showed her two video recordings of their physical relationship. The informant requested the applicant to delete the video recording but, the applicant demanded an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs. It was suspected by the informant that video was circulated. These allegations made by the informant resulted into registration of the FIR, as stated above.

6.

The learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that the applicant has no criminal antecedents and that there was love affair between him and the informant. He further submitted that there is no such video recording as alleged in the FIR. He further submitted that he is ready to surrender his phone to the Investigating Officer.

7.

Per contra, the learned APP has submitted that the offence is serious and custodial interrogation of the applicant is required. He prayed for time to file a reply and for rejection of the application.

3 2aba319.2026.odt 8.

With the assistance of learned counsels for the parties, I have gone through the case record. The informant is 29 year old, whereas the applicant is 24 year old. It is not disputed that both were is a love since the year 2022. The physical relationship with the informant continued even after 10.3.2025. The applicant had a physical relationship with the informant under the pretext of marriage. Since, the applicant and the informant are major and the applicant has shown his readyness to hand over mobile phone to the Investigating Officer, I am inclined to protect the liberty of applicant till the filing of reply, hence, the following order is passed.

ORDER

I) Pending the application, in the event of arrest in connection with Crime No. 345/2026, dated 6.4.2026, registered with Police Station, Akot, District Akola, for the offences punishable under Sections 64(2)(M), 69 and 308(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the applicant be released on bail on furnishing a P.R. bond of Rs. 55,000/- (Rupees Fifty Five Thousand only) with one solvent surety in the like amount.

ii) The applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station on 24th and 25th April 2026, between 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon, and shall cooperate with the investigating agency.

iii) The applicant shall not tamper with the

4 2aba319.2026.odt prosecution evidence or threaten the prosecution witnesses and shall cooperate with the investigation.

iv) The applicant shall not leave the India without prior permission of the Court.

v) The applicant shall surrender his mobile phone on or before 25.4.2026 to the Investigating Officer. (RAJNISH R. VYAS, J.) Belkhede, PS