Dhan Raj Meena v. The State Of Maharashtra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 451 OF 2026 Dhan Raj Meena ...Applicant V/s.
The State of Maharashtra
...Respondent
Mr. Anup Lahoti, Advocate for the Applicant.
Mr. V. N. Sagare, APP for the Respondent/State.
CORAM
:
N.R. BORKAR, J.
DATE :
18.02.2026.
P.C. :
1.
This is an application for Anticipatory Bail. 2.
The Applicant is apprehending his arrest in Crime No.183 of 2025 registered at MRA Marg Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 7 and 9 of the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examination Act, 1982.
3.
The prosecution case in brief is that from the years 1/4
2019 to 2023, The Government of India Mint (IGM), Mumbai, notified various vacancies through specific advertisements for the posts of Junior Office Assistant and Junior Bullion Assistant. For the purpose of conducting online examinations for the recruitment process, IGM appointed an agency, M/s. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). On 18th February 2025, the Security Printing Press (SPP), Hyderabad informed IGM, Mumbai that the candidature of one Nishant Kumar who appeared for document verification for the post of Supervisor (Technical) at their office on 08th February 2025, has been rejected on the ground that his candidature does not match with the candidate who appeared for the online examination at the Mumbai Test Centre.
It was further informed that on the day of verification of documents, an employee of IGM, Mumbai, namely Atul Raj (Accused No.2) was accompanying the candidate. During the interrogation, Nishant Kumar revealed that he did not appear for the examination in Mumbai and the candidate who appeared in his place was arranged by Atul Raj. Accordingly, IGM sought photographs from IDPS, pertaining to the candidates who appeared in the online examination for the various posts advertised through the advertisements dated 2019 to 2023.
committee to verify the documents of the appointed candidates, during the said process the photographs obtained from IDPS along with the attendance records and CCTV footages were scrutinized. The Committee submitted its report on 22nd March 2025, wherein it was observed that 7 candidates have secured their appointment at IGM on the basis of fake candidature, as the photographs taken on the date of examination do not match with the photographs uploaded by the candidates in their online application form. With regards to the present Applicant, it is alleged that in the examination for the post of Junior Bullion Assistant, IGM, Mumbai, which was conducted on 08th November 2020, somebody else had appeared for the said online examination instead of the Applicant. 4.
I have heard the learned counsel for the applicant and the learned APP for the respondent-State.
5.
The learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has nothing to do with the alleged crime. It is submitted that even otherwise there is no need of custodial interrogation and the applicant is ready and willing to co-operate in the investigation.
3/4
6.
On the other hand, the learned APP for the respondentState submits that investigating officer has collected the photograph of the person who appeared in the examination in place of the applicant. It is submitted that internal departmental inquiry was conducted against the applicant and pursuant to the said inquiry the applicant came to be terminated from service. 7.
I have perused the papers of investigation. From the said papers, it appears that instead of the applicant, somebody else had appeared for the examination in question. Considering the nature of crime, I am not inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail. The application is rejected. [N.R.BORKAR, J.] 4/4