Faizan Karim Shaikh v. The State Of Maharashtra And ANR

by LAXMIKANT GOPAL CHANDAN Date:

2026.04.29 19:02:38 +0530 LAXMIKANT GOPAL CHANDAN lgc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1075 OF 2026 Faizan Karim Shaikh : Applicant.

Versus.

The State of Maharashtra anr Anr.

: Respondents.

----- Mr. Ratnish Dubey for the Applicant.

Mrs. P. P. Bhosale, APP for the Respondent/State. PSI Sandeep S Shinde Virar Police Station present. ------- CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.

DATED : 28 APRIL 2026 PC:- 1.

By the present Application, the Applicant seeks prearrest bail on the apprehension of arrest in FIR bearing No. 708 of 2025 (FIR), dated 21 December 2025, registered with Virar Police Station, for offences punishable under Sections 137(2), 64, 96 & 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Sections 4, 8 & 12 of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012; and Sections 4 and 5 of The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (PITA). 2.

Applicant is Accused No.2, whereas Tanvi Sunil Patane is Accused No.1 in the present crime.

3.

The prosecution's case is that the Accused in this crime forced the victim (a minor) into prostitution. Accused No.1 used to solicit customers and force the victim to have a physical relationship for money, despite having full knowledge that the victim was a minor.

4.

Mr. Ratnish Dubey learned Advocate for the Applicant, submits that the FIR registered based on the complaint filed by the victim is false. He further submits that the contention that the victim resides at Building No. 7, 9th Floor, MHADA colony, Virar (West), is factually incorrect. To clarify, he submits that Applicant has an agreement in his possession to show that the victim does not reside at the said place. He further submits that, apart from the alleged illicit relationship the Applicant had with the victim, there are no other allegations against the Applicant.

5.

Mrs. P P Bhosale, learned APP for the Respondent/State, submits that a minor victim was forced into prostitution, the said act of the victim was filmed by the Accused and the victim was blackmailed. She submits that there is sufficient material on record which is collected during the course of investigation to show the involvement and role of the Applicant in the present crime.

6.

Perusal of the impugned FIR indicates that the victim (the minor in the present case) was forced into prostitution by the Applicant and the other Accused named in the FIR. The

allegations further indicate that the physical act was filmed and the victim was blackmailed.

7.

The material on record prima facie, indicates the Applicant's involvement and role in the present crime. Considering the nature of the allegations and the gravity of the offence, no case is made out for indulgence. 8.

In view of the above, Anticipatory Bail Application No.1075 of 2026 is dismissed.

(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)