LAVESH SHANKAR NAKATEversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

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                             IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                  CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
VASANT
ANANDRAO
IDHOL                        ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.1705 OF 2026

Digitally signed
by VASANT          Lavesh Shankar Nikate                                    ...Applicant
ANANDRAO
IDHOL                         V/s.
Date:              State of Maharashtra                                     ...Respondent
2026.09.17
19:09:30 +0530


                   Ms.Snehal Thorat for the Applicant.

                   Mr.Bapu V. Holambe Patil, APP for the Respondent – State.

                   Ms.Pooja Gagare, PSI, Marine Drive Police Station, Mumbai is
                   present in Court.
                                     CORAM : PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.
                                     DATE : 17TH SEPTEMBER, 2026.
                   P.C. :-
                   1.           Heard learned counsel for applicant as well as learned APP
                   for respondent.

                   2.           The applicant has filed the instant application seeking pre-

                   arrest bail in connection with FIR No.91 of 2026 for the offence

                   punishable under Sections 319, 336, 337, 339, 340, 204 read with

                   3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).

                   3.           The FIR came to be registered on the basis of the report

                   lodged by the Security Officer of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly

                   alleging that a blank entry pass came to be issued in favour of one

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Mr.Dattatraya Gunjal and the accused persons have facilitated to

supply the blank pass to the said person. This applicant who was

working as peon is arraigned as accused along with several other

persons.

4.           Learned counsel for applicant submits that the applicant

was working as Peon in Maharashtra Vidhan Bhawan and had no

authority to issue any kind of pass to anybody. He submits that the

only role attributed to this applicant is handling the blank pass, which

was ultimately used by the said person.
5.           Learned counsel for applicant submits that the applicant
has already expressed readiness to join in the investigation and
accordingly, in accordance with the interim protection order dated 3 rd
July, 2026, he has attended the Police Station. Learned counsel for
applicant submits that the other accused have been released on
regular bail and therefore the custody of this applicant is not
necessary.

6.           The application is opposed by the learned APP by

submitting that the applicant has played some role in the offence of

issuing blank passes as stated in the FIR. However, there is no dispute

that the applicant is presently working as Peon and he has attended

the Police Station in accordance with the interim protection order.
7.           Having perused the FIR and the documents placed on
record, it has to be noted that the applicant is working as Peon in
Maharashtra Vidhan Bhawan, Mumbai. Undisputedly the applicant


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had no authority to issue any kind of entry passes. Considering the
fact that the applicant has attended the Police Station and has also
extended co-operation in the investigation by attending the Police
Station as per interim protection order dated 3 rd July, 2026, the
instant application needs to be allowed subject to certain conditions.

8.         Hence I pass the following order :-
                                    ORDER:
     a).   The anticipatory bail application is allowed.
     b).   In the event of arrest of the applicant in Crime No. 91
     of 2026 for the offence punishable under Sections 319, 336,
     337, 339, 340, 204 read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya
     Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), he be released on bail on furnishing
     P.R. Bond of Rs.25,000/- with one solvent surety in the like
     amount.
     c).   The applicant shall extend co-operation during
     the investigation and trial.
     d).   The applicant shall attend the Investigating
     Agency as and when called upon.


9.         The application is allowed in above terms.

                                          (PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.)




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