HIREN BHARAT SUMARIAversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA

                                                               904-ABA-2680-2026.doc

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                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                           CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

                      ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2680 OF 2026


            Hiren Bharat Sumaria                                   ...Applicant
                       V/s.
            State of Maharashtra                                   ...Respondent


            Mr. Naushad Sayyed, (V.C), for the Applicant.
            Ms.Geeta Mulekar, APP for the Respondent – State.



                              CORAM : PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.
                              DATE : 23rd SEPTEMBER, 2026.
            P.C. :-

            1.           Heard the learned counsel for applicant as well as learned

            APP for respondent.

            2.           The applicant has filed in instant application seeking

            pre-arrest bail under Section 482 of BNSS in connection with FIR No.

            241 of 2026 registered with Bhiwandi City Police Station for offence

            under Section 179 and 180 of BNS, 2023.

            3.           The FIR is registered on the basis of the report lodged by

            Dy. Branch Manager of ICICI Bank, Dhamankar Naka Bhiwandi,

            alleging that on 17.03.2026, this applicant who is an employee of Sri

            Sri Devi Jewellers had deposited an amount of Rs. 30,00,000/- by

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cash and at that time it was found that five notes of Rs. 500/-

denomination were detected to be fake. On the basis of these

allegations, the FIR came to be registered against this applicant.

4.         The learned counsel for applicant submits that there is

nothing to indicate that this applicant had knowledge that the notes

were fake. He further states that there are no criminal antecedents

against the applicant. He also submits that in view of the nature of

offence the applicant is ready to join investigation.

5.         The learned APP opposed the application and submitted

that allegations in FIR show that the bank has received certain fake

notes of Rs. 500/- denomination and since the notes are tendered by

the applicant, the source of those fake notes need to be investigated.

She submits that further investigation in the matter is required to be

conducted.

6.         Perused the FIR and the documents placed on record. It has

to be noted that the allegations about tendering fake notes is leveled

only because the applicant has presented the said notes to the Bank.

There is nothing to show that this applicant had knowledge about the

notes being fake. Further it cannot be accepted at this stage that the

applicant having knowledge about the notes to be fake would go and

tender the said notes in a Bank where detection machines are already

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placed to detect the genuineness of the currencies.

7.           Considering the nature of the offence and above mentioned

aspects and further considering readiness of the applicant to join the

investigation, his personal liberty needs to be protected at this stage.

8.           Hence I pass the following order :

                         : ORDER :

(i)          Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed.

(ii)         In the event of arrest of the applicant in connection with

Crime No. 177/2026 u/s.310(2), 333, 351(2), 351(3), 352 of Bhartiya

Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 registered with Padgha Police Station, the

Applicant may be released on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs.

25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with one solvent surety of

the like amount.

(iii)        The applicant is directed to attend the Police Station on

27.09.2026 in between 10.00 a.m to 2.00 p.m and thereafter as and

when called upon by the Investigating Agency.

(iv)         The applicant shall extend cooperation during investigation

and trial.

9.           The Application is accordingly allowed and disposed of in

above terms.

                                           (PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.)

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