Bombay High Court

HARI LAL SINGH AND ANRversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Decided: 8 January 2026
Disposal: Rejected
Bench: N R BORKAR

Holding

The court granted anticipatory bail to Hari Lal Singh, subject to a bond and conditions, finding no specific allegations against him.

Summary

The petitioners Hari Lal Singh and Dashrath Hari Singh applied for anticipatory bail in a fraud case involving alleged forex trading scams amounting to Rs.1 crore. Dashrath Hari Singh was arrested during the pendency of the application and sought to withdraw his application, which the court disposed of as withdrawn. Hari Lal Singh, a 77‑year‑old father of a co‑accused, argued that no specific allegations were made against him and that he was not a beneficiary of the fraud. The prosecution contended that he was involved in multiple similar offenses. After reviewing the first information report and witness statements, the court found no direct allegations against Hari Lal Singh and granted him anticipatory bail subject to a bond of Rs.25,000 and conditions to cooperate with the investigation.

Issues considered

Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to Hari Lal Singh despite the alleged involvement in a fraud case.
Whether the absence of specific allegations against the applicant warrants bail.
Whether the applicant’s age and relationship to a co‑accused affect the bail decision.

Legislation cited

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — s. 316(2), 318(4), 3(5), 61(2)

Subjects

anticipatory bail
fraud
forex trading
age
co‑accused
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
bail conditions

Judgment

                                                            [email protected]


         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
               CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
        ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2780 OF 2025

1.   Hari Lal Singh
2.   Dashrath Hari SIngh                                 …Applicants
     V/s.
The State of Maharashtra                                 ...Respondent.
                                WITH
           INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 4777 OF 2025
                               …………..
Mr. Satyavrat Joshi (through VC) a/w. Mr. Nitin Pai i/b Ms Shivani
Sunil Kondekar for the Applicants in ABAs.
Mr. S.R. Agarkar, APP for the Respondent/State.
Ms Dhara Shah (through VC) i/b Mr. Satish J. Agarwal for the
Intervener/first informant in both IAs.
PI Manoj Patil, Malad Police Station is present.
                              …………..
                             CORAM :         N.R. BORKAR, J.
                             DATE       :    08.01.2026.
P.C. :

1.       This is an application for anticipatory bail.


2.       During pendency of the present application, the applicant
No.2 - Dashrath Singh came to be arrested. In that view of the
matter, learned counsel for the applicant No.2 seeks leave to
withdraw the present application qua applicant No.2.


3.       The applicant No.1 – Hari Singh is apprehending his arrest in
Crime No.432 of 2025 registered at Malad Police Station for the
offence punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2), 3(5) and 61(2)
of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.




Dinesh S. Sherla                        1/3
                                                      [email protected]


4.       It is the case of the prosecution that the present applicant
and other co-accused had induced the first informant and other
investors to invest money in forex trading by assuring them good
returns and defrauded them to the tune of Rs.1 crore.


5.       I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the applicant
No.1, the learned APP for the respondent / State and the learned
counsel for the intervener/first informant.


6.       Learned counsel for the applicant No.1 submits that the main
allegations are against the co-accused Dinesh Singh. It is
submitted that there are no specific allegations against the
applicant No.1, however, he came to be implicated just because
he happened to be father of co-accused Dinesh Singh. It is further
submitted that the applicant No.1 is 77 years old. It is submitted
that there is no need of custodial interrogation and the applicant is
ready and willing to cooperate in the investigation. It is further
submitted that the applicant No.1 is not the beneficiary of the
alleged defrauded amount.


7.       On the other hand, learned APP for the respondent
No.1/State and the learned counsel for the intervener/first
informant submits that the applicant No.1 is involved in 11 more
crimes of similar nature. It is submitted that considering the
nature of crime, the applicant No.1 may not be released on
anticipatory bail.




Dinesh S. Sherla                     2/3
                                                                 [email protected]


8.       I    have     perused   the   first     information   report    and     the
statements of witnesses. The main allegations are against the co-
accused Dinesh Singh. No specific allegations are made against
the present applicant No.1. It is not shown that the applicant No.1
is the beneficiary of the alleged defrauded amount. In that view of
the matter, I am inclined to release the applicant No.1 on
anticipatory bail. In the result the following order is passed.
                                         ORDER

         A)        The Anticipatory Bail Application qua the applicant
         No.2- Dashrath Hari Singh is disposed of as withdrawn.

         B)        In the event of arrest of the applicant       No.1- Hari Lal
         Singh in C.R. No.432 of 2025 registered at Malad Police
         Station for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4),
         316(2), 3(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023,
         he be released on bail on executing P.R. Bond in the sum of
         Rs.25,000/- with one surety or two sureties in the like
         amount.

         C)        The applicant No.1 – Hari Lal Singh shall attend the
         concerned police station as and when called by the
         Investigating Officer and shall cooperate in the investigation.

         D)        The Application is disposed of in the aforesaid terms.


9.       The Interim Application stands disposed of.



                                                       [N.R.BORKAR, J.]

Dinesh S. Sherla                               3/3

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