Bombay High Court
MAHADEO KISAN JADHAVversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
- Decided
- Disposal
- Allowed
Holding
The court granted anticipatory bail to the applicants subject to stringent conditions.
Summary
The applicants, Mahadeo Kisan Jadhav and Swati Swapnil Jadhav, sought anticipatory bail under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with a FIR alleging assault, robbery and other offences arising from a family land dispute. The prosecution alleged that the applicants assaulted the informant with an iron rod and bamboo stick, snatched a mobile phone and laptop, and damaged property. The defence highlighted the applicants' senior citizen status, the absence of prior antecedents, and the existence of reciprocal non‑cognizable reports. The court examined whether the seriousness of the offences justified denial of bail and whether conditions could safeguard the investigation. It concluded that bail could be granted but imposed strict conditions, including a personal bond, regular police reporting, and prohibitions on tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses. The anticipatory bail application was therefore disposed of in favour of the applicants.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted under Section 482 of the BNSS for offences punishable under Sections 118(1), 119(1), 3(5), 324(4), 351(2) and 352 of the BNS.
- Whether the seriousness of the alleged assault and property damage warrants custodial interrogation despite the applicants' personal circumstances.
- Whether imposing conditions on bail is appropriate to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 482
- Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — s. 118(1), 119(1), 324(4), 3(5), 351(2), 352
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Section 482
- BNSS
- BNS
- assault
- property dispute
- senior citizen
- woman
- conditions of bail
- police investigation
Judgment
36-ABA-2162-2026+.DOC
Akash Tayde
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2162 OF 2026
Mahadeo Kisan Jadhav …Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra …Respondent
WITH
ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2079 OF 2026
Swati Swapnil Jadhav …Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra …Respondent
Ms. Swapna P. Kode, for the Applicants.
Ms. M. R. Tidke, APP, for the Respondent-State.
Mr. Varun Thokal i/b Jayant Bardeskar, for the First
informant/Complainant.
CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.
DATED : 05th OCTOBER 2026
PC:-
1. Heard Ms. Kode, learned Counsel appearing for the
Applicants, Ms. Tidke, learned APP appearing for the Respondent-
State and Mr. Thokal, for the First Informant/Complainant.
2. By the present Application filed under Section 482 of the
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (“BNSS”), the
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Applicants are seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with C.R. No.
183 of 2026 registered with Junnar Police Station, Pune Rural,
Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 118(1), 119(1),
3(5), 324(4) 351(2) and 352 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
(“BNS”).
3. It is the submission of Ms. Kode, learned Counsel appearing
for the Applicants that the incident has taken place as there is
dispute concerning agricultural lands and other issues between the
family of the Applicants and the family of the First Informant. She
further submits that, in fact, with respect to the same incident, the
Applicants' family also wanted to lodge the FIR, however, the FIR
has not been registered at their instance. She submits that
Applicant- Mahadeo Kisan Jadhav is a senior citizen of 66 years
and Applicant- Swati Swapnil Jadhav is lady and house wife. She
submits that even as per the prosecution case, the main role is
attributed to Swapnil Mahadeo Jadhav. She further submits that
the First Informant has abused the Applicant and thereafter N.C.R.
are filed on 07th October 2025 and on 28th September 2026. She
submits that there are no other antecedents.
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4. On the other hand, learned APP and learned Counsel
appearing for the Respondent No.2 submits that offence is very
serious and therefore, custodial interrogation is necessary. Mr.
Thokal, learned Counsel appearing for the Respondent No.2
submits that in fact, another incident has taken place and
therefore, N.C.R. has been filed on 28 th September 2026. Learned
Counsel therefore, submits that application be rejected.
5. The prosecution case is set out in Paragraph No.2 of order
dated 02nd July 2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions
Judge, Junnar District, Pune in Criminal Bail Application No.121 of
2026, which reads as under :-
2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that there are long-
standing civil disputes pending between the family of the
informant and the family of the applicants in respect of their
ancestral property. On account of the said dispute, relations
between the parties are strained. It is alleged that on
12.06.2026 at 7.00 p.m., the applicants, assaulted the
informant by means of an iron rod and bamboo stick,
causing injuries to him. During the course of the incident,
one of the co-accused allegedly snatched the mobile phone
of the informant. It is further alleged that the co-accused
abused the parents of the informant in filthy language and
forcibly snatched the laptop from his hands. The co-accused
also damaged the water pipelines installed in the
agricultural land belonging to the informant's family, thereby
causing loss to them. On the basis of the aforesaid
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allegations, the present crime came to be registered against
the applicants and others.
6. As per the prosecution case, the only role attributed to the
Applicant- Mahadeo Kisan Jadhav (Accused No.3) is that he has
assaulted the injured with the bamboo stick. The assault by iron
rod is attributed to Swapnil Mahadeo Jadhav (Accused No.1) and
the role attributed to the Applicant-Swati Swapnil Jadhav (Accused
No.2) is that she snatched the laptop. There are no other
antecedents. The incident has happened as there as dispute over
agricultural lands and other issues between the family of the First
Informant and the Applicants.
7. Accordingly, in the facts and circumstances, the case is made
out for grant of Anticipatory Bail. However, stringent conditions
are required to be imposed in view of N.C.R. lodged by both the
parties against each other. Hence, the following order is passed:
ORDER
(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant (in
ABA/2162/2026) - Mahadeo Kisan Jadhav and
Applicant (in ABA/2079/2026) - Swati Swapnil
Jadhav in connection with C.R. No.183 of 2026
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Akash Tayde
registered with Junnar Police Station, Pune Rural, the
Applicants are directed to be released on bail on their
furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs. 30,000/- with
one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.
(b) The Applicants shall attend the concerned Police
Station on 12th October 2026 and 13th October 2026
between 11:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m.. Thereafter, the
Applicants shall also attend the concerned Police
Station once in a 15 days till filing of the chargesheet
and shall cooperate with the investigation. In
addition, the Applicant shall attend the concerned
Police Station as and when called.
(c) The Applicant shall furnish his cell phone number and
residential address to the Investigating Officer and
shall keep the same updated, in case of any change
thereto.
(d) The Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any
inducement, threat, or promise to any person
acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade
such a person from disclosing the facts to the Court or
to any Police personnel.
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(e) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution
evidence and shall not contact or influence the
Complainant or any witness in any manner.
8. The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of accordingly.
[MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]
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