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Bombay High Court

MOHAN THOMASversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Decided
Disposal
Disposed off as Withdrawn

Holding

The anticipatory bail application is disposed of as withdrawn, with liberty to file a proper application before the Sessions Court.

Summary

Mohan Thomas filed an anticipatory bail application before the Bombay High Court without first approaching the Sessions Court after the registration of FIR No. 292 of 2026. The State counsel highlighted this procedural lapse and the applicant's counsel sought permission to withdraw the application and instead file a proper application before the Sessions Court. The Court allowed the withdrawal, disposing of the anticipatory bail application with liberty to re‑file appropriately. Consequently, the related interim application was also disposed of. No merits of the bail claim were examined.

Issues considered

  • Whether an anticipatory bail application can be filed directly before the High Court without first filing before the Sessions Court after FIR registration
  • Whether the applicant may be permitted to withdraw the anticipatory bail application and re‑file before the appropriate lower court

Subjects

  • anticipatory bail
  • withdrawal of application
  • procedural requirement
  • high court jurisdiction
  • sessions court

Judgment

                     KVM
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                                                                        903 - ABA 2140 OF 2026.doc



        Digitally
        signed by
        KANCHAN
                                IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
KANCHAN VINOD
VINOD   MAYEKAR
MAYEKAR Date:
        2026.09.17
        18:21:46
        +0530                        CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

                                ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2140/2026

                     MOHAN THOMAS                                     ….. APPLICANT
                           VS
                     THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ANR.                  ….. RESPONDENTS

                                               ALONGWITH
                                    INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 2845/2026
                                                    IN
                                ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2140/2026

                     NARENDRA RAMNIRANJAN JAIN                        ….. FIRST INFORMANT/
                                                                      INTERVENER

                                              IN THE MATTER OF

                     MOHAN THOMAS                                     ….. APPLICANT
                           VS

                     THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA                         ….. RESPONDENT

                     Adv. Viquar Rajguru for the Applicant.

                     Mr. Aabad Ponda, Senior Advocate a/w. Adv. Mahesh Ahire, Adv.
                     Drishti Singh, Adv. Kush Agarwal, Adv. Soumyajoti Lodh i/b. MZM
                     Legal LLP for the Intervenor.

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

                     PSI. N. More, N.M.Joshi Marg Police Station present.

                                             CORAM : PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.
                                             DATE : 17TH SEPTEMBER, 2026
KVM
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                                                      903 - ABA 2140 OF 2026.doc



P.C. :-

1)           After the learned counsel for the respondent pointed out

that the instant application is filed by the applicant directly before this

Court, without filing any application before the Sessions Court after

registration of the FIR, learned counsel for the applicant seeks leave to

withdraw the instant application with liberty to file an appropriate

application before the Sessions Court for anticipatory bail in FIR No.

292 of 2026.

2)           The instant application is disposed of as withdrawn with

liberty as prayed for.

3)           In view of the disposal of the Anticipatory Bail

Application, Interim Application also stands disposed of.



                                          [PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.]


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