Bombay High Court
DADA @ PRAJOT ABASO CHOUGULEversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
- Decided
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The court granted anticipatory bail to the applicant subject to conditions.
Summary
The Bombay High Court entertained an anticipatory bail application filed by Dada @ Prajot Abaso Chougule under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with FIR No. 188/2026 alleging offences under Sections 25 and 4 of the Arms Act, 1959 and several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The alleged incident stemmed from a dispute over dog bites that escalated into an assault, resulting in a fractured hand to the complainant. The applicant asserted that he had no prior criminal record and that the matter was a minor altercation. The court examined whether the seriousness of the alleged offences and the risk of evidence tampering or witness intimidation warranted denial of bail. Concluding that there was no substantial ground to refuse bail and noting the applicant’s clean record, the court granted anticipatory bail with standard conditions. The order required the applicant to furnish a personal bond, cooperate with the investigation, and refrain from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted under Section 482 of the BNSS for offences under the Arms Act and the BNS arising from the alleged assault
- Whether the nature and seriousness of the alleged offences justify denial of bail
- Whether the applicant poses a risk of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses
Legislation cited
- Arms Act, 1959 — s. 25, 4
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 482
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — s. 118(1), 126(2), 189(4), 190, 191(3)
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Section 482
- criminal procedure
- Arms Act
- assault
- dog bite dispute
- bail conditions
- High Court
Judgment
916-ABA-2750-2026.DOC
Akash Tayde
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2750 OF 2026
Dada @ Prajot Abaso Chougule …Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra …Respondent
Mr. Prashant Hagare, for the Applicant.
Mr. S. S. Ghag, APP, for the Respondent-State.
Mr. Sachin Jamdade, Head Constable, Walchandnagar, Police
Station, Pune Rural, present.
CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.
DATED : 07th OCTOBER 2026
PC:-
1. Heard Mr. Hagare, learned Counsel appearing for the
Applicant and Mr. Ghag, learned APP appearing for the
Respondent-State.
2. This application is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (“BNSS”) seeking pre-arrest bail
in connection with C.R. No.188 of 2026 registered with
Walchandnagar Police Station, Pune Rural, Pune, for the offences
punishable under Sections 25 and 4 of the Arms Act, 1959 and
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Akash Tayde
Sections 118(1), 190, 189(4), 126(2) and 191(3) of the Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (“BNS”).
3. The relevant details are as under:
1. Name and Age of the Applicant Dada @ Prajot Abaso
Chougule, Age 30 years
2. C.R. No. 188 of 2026
3. Police Station Walchandnagar
4. Date of Incident 10/06/2026
5. Date of Registration of F.I.R. 10/06/2026
6. Sections applied in F.I.R. Sections 25 and 4 of the
Arms Act, 1959 and
118(1), 190, 189(4),
126(2), 191(3) of the
BNS.
7. Date of Arrest of Applicant -
8. Date of filing of Charge-sheet, if any. -
9. Sections applied in Charge-sheet -
10. Any Special Statute invoked -
11. Total number & Age of One Victim aged 47 yrs.
Deceased/Victim
12. Total Number of Accused Six
13. Anticipatory Bail/Regular Bail The main accused No.1
granted to any other Accused is enlarged on regular
bail by the Trial Court.
Accused Nos.1 & 2
released on Anticipatory
Bail by order dated 30th
September 2026 by this
Court.
4. The prosecution case is set out in paragraph No.2 of the
order dated 22nd September 2026, passed by the learned
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Akash Tayde
Additional Sessions Judge, Indapur, District- Pune, in Criminal Bail
Application No.171 of 2026, which reads as under:
“2. The brief facts, which led to the filing of the
FIR can be summarized as under -
That on 10.06.2026 informant Sanjay Gawade
lodged the FIR with Walchandnagar Police
Station alleging that on 09.06.2026, dog of Akash
Gawade had took bite to his dog. When the same
was questioned, Akash Gawade abused &
threatened him to kill. On 10.06.2026, around
08.00 am, while he was proceeding by his
motorcycle, Akash Gawade, Sagar Dhapate,
Avinash Jadhav, Dada Chougule & other two
unknown persons came there by their two
motorcycles & intercepted his motorcycle. He was
encircled by them. Akash Gawade abused & gave
strokes of Koyta on his right hand whereby, he
sustained bleeding injury. He rushed to the
hospital where, doctor informed him that his
right hand was fractured & advised operation.
Making such allegations, he lodged FIR in the
Walchandnagar Police Station. Accordingly, C. R.
No. 188/2026 came to be registered at
Walchandnagar Police Station. During the course
of investigation Akash came to be arrested and
therefore, applicants apprehend their arrest in
the present crime and therefore, they are seeking
protection by way of anticipatory bail.”
5. Even as per the prosecution case, the incident has taken
place concerning fights between two dogs. As far as the present
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Akash Tayde
Applicants are concerned, there are no criminal antecedents
against them.
6. Accordingly, the case is made out for grant of Anticipatory
Bail. In view thereof, the following order is passed:
ORDER
(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant- Dada @ Prajot
Abaso Chougule in connection with C.R. No.188 of
2026 registered with the Walchandnagar Police
Station, Pune Rural, Pune, the Applicants are directed
to be released on bail on his furnishing P.R. Bond in
the sum of Rs.10,000/- each with one or two solvent
sureties each in the like amount.
(b) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police
Station as and when called by the Investigating Officer
and shall cooperate with the investigation.
(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.
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Akash Tayde
(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.
(e) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution
evidence and shall not contact or influence the
Complainant or any witness in any manner.
7. The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of accordingly.
[MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.]
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