Dr Vishal Ramesh Kukade v. The State Of Maharashtra

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.494 OF 2026 Dr Vishal Ramesh Kukade ... Applicant V/s.

The State Of Maharashtra ... Respondents ____________________________________ Mr. Balasaheb Deshmukh, Advocate for the Applicant. Ms. R.V. Newton, APP, for the Respondent-State. A.P.I. Sachin Chavan,Talegaon Dabhade Police Station, PimpriChinchwad, Pune, present. ____________________________________

CORAM

: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED : 24th FEBRUARY 2026 P.C.:

1.

Heard Mr. Deshmukh, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant and Ms. Newton, learned APP appearing for the RespondentState of Maharashtra. 2.

By the present Anticipatory Bail Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ("BNSS"), the Applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.370 of 2025 registered with the Talegaon Dabhade Police Station, PimpriChinchwad, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 316(2), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 337, 340 (2) and 344 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ("BNS").

3.

Mr. Deshmukh, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is a Doctor by profession, his name is not even mentioned in the FIR and no role has been attributed to him. He submits that the Applicant apprehends arrest as he is the partner of the concerned hospital. Learned counsel submits that the charge sheet has already filed. Mr. Deshmukh, learned counsel further submits that this Court by order dated 22nd January 2026 rejected Anticipatory Bail Application of Accused-Sandeep Bhimrao Wankhede being Anticipatory Bail Application No.24 of 2026. He submits that the said applicant has approached the Supreme Court and Supreme Court has granted adinterim protection. He submits that as per the FIR Accused-Sandeep Bhimrao Wankhede is the only Accused.

He therefore submits that the Applicant be granted Anticipatory Bail. Mr. Deshmukh, learned Counsel, submits that the Applicant is not actively involved in the affairs of the said hospital, and even his name is not reflected in the FIR. He has no role to play in the alleged crime. He submits that charge sheet is filed and therefore, substantial investigation is completed. 4.

On the other hand, Mr. Newton, APP submits that offences is very serious and therefore Anticipatory Bail Application be rejected. Learned APP submits that the offences is very serious and that the custodial interrogation of the Applicant is necessary. She submits that the

Applicant is one of the partners of the said hospital and therefore, the Applicant is involved in the crime.

5.

As per the prosecution case, the First Informant is a Branch Operation Service Manager of Bajaj General Insurance Ltd. Company, Chinchwad Branch. During the course of the audit, when detailed scrutiny of the health insurance claim was carried out, it was noticed that, the documents annexed to the various health insurance claims submitted by the Hospital viz. Shree Multi-Speciality Hospital, situated at Village - Talegaon Dabhade, Taluka - Maval, District - Pune, the same are found to be similar in respect to health insurance claims.

During investigation it was found that four patients who had taken treatment in the said hospital and who were holding their health insurance, some of them had sustained minor injuries in road accidents whereas, some had not all all sustained any injury and in spite of that, said Shree Multi-Speciality Hospital submitted health insurance claims and had obtained the cost of the treatment from said Insurance Company. On scrutiny of the details of medico-legal cases annexed to the Insurance Forms it was found that the said medico-legal cases are non-existent and fictitious. No such medico-legal case is found to be registered with Talegaon-Dabhade Police Station, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune.

intentionally prepared false documents with intention to cheat the insurance company and defrauded the insurance company to the tune of Rs.3,62,179/-.

6.

As per the prosecution case the said hospital has been registered in the name of Accused-Sandeep Bhimrao Wankhede and he has signed several documents submitted to the said Insurance Company by describing himself as Director of the said Shree Multispeciality Hospital. 7.

Perusal of the record shows that, as far as the the FIR is concerned, all the allegations are against Accused-Sandeep Bhimrao Wankhede, who has been granted interim protection by the Supreme Court. There are no allegations in the FIR against the present Applicant. As the charge sheet is filed, substantial part of the investigation is completed.

8.

Mr. Deshmukh, states that the Applicant is a Doctor by profession and that he will cooperate with the investigation. As far as the FIR is concerned, no allegations are made against the present Applicant. 9.

Accordingly, in the facts and circumstances, case is made out for grant of Anticipatory Bail.

10.

Accordingly, the Applicant is granted anticipatory bail by imposing conditions. Hence, following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(i) In the event of arrest, the Applicant - Dr Vishal Ramesh Kukade, be released on bail in CR No.370 of 2025 registered with the Talegaon Dabhade Police Station, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, on executing P.R. bond of Rs.1,00,000/- and furnishing one or two sureties in the like amount. (ii) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station on 5th March, 2026 and 6th March, 2026 between 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and thereafter as and when called by the Police and shall co-operate with the investigation.

(iii) The Applicant shall furnish his cell phone number and residential address to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated, in case of any change thereto.

(iv) The Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade such a person from disclosing the facts to the Court or to any Police personnel.

(v) The Applicant shall deposit passport with the Investigating Officer.

(vi) The Applicant shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court.

(vii) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant, or any witness, in any manner.

11.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed and disposed of accordingly.

( MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.)