Alfiya Anum Shaikh And ANR v. The State Of Maharashtra And ANR

1 920-ABA 580-26.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.580 OF 2026 Alfiya Anum Shaikh & Anr.

... Applicants Vs.

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

... Respondents ----- Ms. Neha Balani, Tahir Hussain, Pratiksha More i/by Hulyalkar & Associates for the Applicants.

Mr. B. V. Holambe Patil, APP for the Respondent-State. ----- CORAM :

N.R. BORKAR, J.

DATE :

06TH MARCH 2026 P.C. :

1.

This is an Application for transit anticipatory bail. 2.

The Applicants are apprehending their arrest in Crime No.92 of 2019 registered with Pali Police Station, Jahanabad District, State of Bihar for the offences punishable under Sections 114, 406, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 506, 120B of the Indian Penal Code.

3.

It is the case of the prosecution that the first informant and Applicant Alfiya Shaikh got acquainted with each other due to similar occupational background in electronic media and film industry. It is alleged that subsequently they started a partnership firm namely M/s. ALF Digital and as such acquired a well paying contracts from Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. as well as owned YouTube channels that generated a good revenue. It is alleged that Applicant Nos.1 and 2

2 920-ABA 580-26.doc conspired with each other and prepared a forged documents such as Partnership Deed dated 15th October 2012, thereby depicting that they are the partners of the firm M/s. ALF Digital, thereby defrauding the first informant for a substantial amount.

4.

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

5.

Learned Counsel for the Applicants submits that similar complaint was filed by the first informant before the Metropolitan Magistrate, 44th Court, Andheri, Mumbai and by the order dated 06th July 2019, the prayer made by the first informant for ordering investigation under Section 156

(3) of the Cr.P.C.was rejected. It is submitted that with ulterior motive, the first informant had filed the similar complaint before the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Jahanabad pursuant to which the crime in question came to be registered. It is submitted that to enable the Applicants to approach the jurisdictional court, they may be protected for a period of twelve weeks. 6.

Considering the overall facts and circumstances, I am inclined to protect the Applicants from arrest for a period of six weeks. Hence, the following order is passed :-

ORDER

i.

The Application is allowed.

ii.

In the event of the arrest of the Applicants in Crime No.92 of 2019 registered with Pali Police Station, Jahanabad District, State of Bihar for the offences punishable under Sections 114, 406, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 506, 120B of the Indian Penal

3 920-ABA 580-26.doc Code, they shall be released on bail on furnishing a PR Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only) each with one or two sureties in the like amount for a period of six weeks.

7.

The Application is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. (N.R. BORKAR, J.)