Bombay High Court
BHAUSAHEB DATTOBA KAMBLE AND ANRversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA
- Decided
- Disposal
- Dismissed
Holding
The Court dismissed the anticipatory bail applications; no bail was granted to any of the accused.
Summary
The High Court considered two anticipatory bail applications filed by Shekhar Bhosale and by Bhausaheb and Laxmi Kamble in connection with offences under Sections 108, 115(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The applicants claimed they were not present at the alleged assault on Vaishnavi on 7 June 2026 and that the main accused, her husband, had already been granted regular bail. The prosecution alleged that the husband, father‑in‑law, mother‑in‑law, brother‑in‑law and Shekhar Bhosale jointly assaulted the victim, causing unconsciousness and leading to her suicide on 9 June 2026, and that the father‑in‑law sexually harassed her. The Court referred to the Supreme Court’s decision in Abhinav Mohan Delkar v. State of Maharashtra, emphasizing the test for abetment to suicide. Finding the allegations serious and the participation of the applicants plausible, the Court dismissed both anticipatory bail applications.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted to the accused given the seriousness of the alleged assault and suicide.
- Whether the evidence shows participation of the applicants in the offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Applicability of the Supreme Court’s test for abetment to suicide to the present facts.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — s. 108, 115(2), 3(5)
- Indian Penal Code — s. 107, 306
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- abetment to suicide
- assault
- sexual harassment
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
- criminal procedure
- bail jurisprudence
Judgment
22 ABA-1983-2026=23 ABA-1984-2026.DOC
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1983 OF 2026
Shekhar @ Chandrashekhar Jagannath Bhosale …Applicant
Vs.
State of Maharashtra …Respondent
Through Yavat Police Station
AND
ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1984 OF 2026
1. Bhausaheb Dattoba Kamble …Applicants
2. Laxmi Bhausaheb Kamble
Vs.
The State of Maharashtra …Respondent
Mr. Arjun S. Pawar, for the Applicants in both Applications.
Ms. Savita M. Yadav, APP for the Respondent-State.
PSI Akshay More, Yavat Police Station, Pune Rural
CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.
DATE : 21st SEPTEMBER, 2026
P. C.:
1. By these applications, the Applicants are seeking pre-arrest
bail in connection with C.R. No. 565 of 2026 registered with Yavat
Police Station, Pune Rural for the offences punishable under
Sections 108, 115(2) and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
2. It is the contention of Mr. Pawar, learned counsel appearing
for the Applicants that the Applicants are not involved in the crime.
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He submits that there are total six accused. Two accused, namely,
accused Nos.1 and 5 have been granted regular bail. The
Applicant in Criminal Anticipatory Bail Application No. 1983 of
2026 i.e. Accused No.4 is the relative and not present when the
alleged incident of assault on the deceased took place on 7 th June
2026. He submits that as far as accused Nos. 2 and 3, they are in-
laws and they are not involved in the crime. He submits that the
main allegations are against the Accused No.1-husband who has
been arrested and released on regular bail. He submits that in fact
the charge-sheet is also filed against the arrested accused. Mr.
Pawar, learned counsel submits that accused Nos. 2 and 3, i.e., in-
laws went to Bangalore on 8th June 2026 by Udyan Express which
train they boarded on 12:15 P.M. in the afternoon on 8 th June,
2026 and therefore, submits that the in-laws are not involved in
the crime. He further submits that there are no antecedents and
therefore anticipatory bail application be allowed.
3. On the other hand, Ms. Yadav, learned APP states that the
allegations are very serious. As far as the accused No.2, i.e., father-
in-law, the allegations are that he was sexually harassing the
victim. She points out that on 8th June 2026, the First Informant,
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i.e., mother of the deceased received a phone call at about 5:30
P.M. and the victim has informed her that on 7 th June 2026, her
husband, in-laws and Accused No.4, i.e., Shekhar Bhosale in
Anticipatory Bail Application No. 1893 of 2026 assaulted the
victim to such an extent that she became unconscious, however she
was not taken to the hospital and that on 9 th June 2026, early
morning, the deceased died by suicide. Ms. Yadav, learned APP,
therefore, submits that all accused are involved in very serious
and therefore custodial interrogation is necessary.
4. The prosecution case is set out in paragraph No. 3 of order
dated 13th July 2026 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge,
Baramati in Criminal Bail Application No. 441 of 2026, which
reads as under :-
“3] Informant's daughter namely Vaishnavi married
to accused no.1 Ajinkya. After some days, dispute
arose between the accused no.1 Ajinkya and victim
Vaishnavi as accused no.1 Ajinkya was having extra
marital relationship. Moreover, accused no.1 Ajinkya
used to ill-treat the victim Vaishnavi physically and
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mentally. Moreover, accused no. 2 Bhauso used to
look at the victim with bad intention and he used to
physically and mentally harass her. On dt.08/06/2026
at about 05.30 pm informant received a phone call
from the victim namely Vaishnavi. At that time, victim
Vaishnavi informed to her that her husband, father in
law, mother in law, brother in law and Shekhar
Bhosale and Mr. Kadam severely beaten her and
therefore, she became unconscious. At that time,
informant consoled her. On dt. 09/06/2026 at about
08.30 am informant was at Bus Stand to proceed
towards village Dalimbe to meet the victim. At that
time, she received a phone call of accused no.1
Ajinkya. He informed the informant that victim
Vaishnavi has committed suicide. Hence, informant
lodged report about the said incident to Yavat Police
Station.”
5. Thus, it is clear that the deceased was continuously harassed
by the Applicant and co-accused. In fact, accused No.1, i.e., the
husband of the deceased was having extra-marital relationship and
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therefore also the Applicant and co-accused were physically and
mentally harassing the Applicant. In fact, the allegation is that
Accused No. 2, i.e., father-in-law was sexually harassing the
deceased. As per the prosecution case, on 7 th June 2026, all the
Applicants including the co-accused very severally assaulted the
deceased to such an extent that she became unconscious. Inspite of
that she was not taken to the Hospital. She died by suicide in the
early morning on 9th June 2026.
6. The Supreme Court in the case of Abhinav Mohan Delkar Vs.
State of Maharashtra1 has held that Section 306 read with Section
107 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, has been interpreted, time
and again, and its principles are well-established. It has been held
that to attract the offence of abetment to suicide, it is important to
establish proof of direct or indirect acts of instigation or incitement
of suicide by the accused, which must be in close proximity to the
commission of suicide by the deceased. Such instigation or
incitement should reveal a clear mens rea to abet the commission
of suicide and should put the victim in such a position that he/she
would have no other option but to commit suicide.
1 (2026) 6 SCC 233
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7. As noted hereinabove the Accused No.1 was having extra
marital relationship and therefore all accused were physically and
mentally harassing the victim. She was assaulted about 1 day
earlier to such an extent that she became unconscious. Still she
was not taken to the hospital. The father-in-law was sexually
harassing her. Thus the observations of the Supreme Court in
Abhinav Mohan Delkar (Supra) are squarely applicable to the
present case.
8. Accordingly, no case is made for grant of anticipatory bail to
any of the accused. The Anticipatory Bail Applications are
dismissed.
9. The observations in this order are made for considering
these Anticipatory Bail Applications. The learned Trial Court shall
not be influenced by any of the observations made hereinabove
and shall decide the case on its own merits.
[MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]
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