Bombay High Court
MAHESH BABAN SHENDEKARversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR.
- Disposal
- Allowed
Holding
The court confirmed the interim bail order and made it absolute, granting anticipatory bail to the applicant.
Summary
Mahesh Baban Shendekar applied for anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No.660 of 2025. An interim bail order was issued on 4 February 2026, requiring him to cooperate with the investigation and attend the police station on specified dates. The applicant appeared before the investigating officer, fully cooperated, and the investigation was completed, resulting in a charge‑sheet filed as RCC No.84 of 2026 before the Judicial Magistrate. The intervenor opposed the application, seeking custodial interrogation, but the court noted the applicant’s compliance and the pending trial. Consequently, the court confirmed the interim bail order as absolute, allowing the anticipatory bail application.
Issues considered
- Whether the anticipatory bail granted on 4 February 2026 should be converted into absolute bail given the applicant's cooperation and the completion of investigation.
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Criminal Procedure Code
- interim bail
- cooperation with investigation
- charge sheet
- bail conditions
Judgment
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31-ABA-69-2026 (CR).DOC
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CR. ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLN. NO. 69 OF 2026
Mahesh Baban Shendekar …........Applicant
VERSUS
State Of Maharashtra And Anr. ….......Respondents
_________________________________________________________________
Mr. Ganesh M. Khatkale, for Applicant.
Dr. Ashvini A. Takalkar, A.P.P., for Respondent-State.
Mr. Vaibhav Gaikwad, for the Intervenor / Complainant.
Officer: Mr. P. H. Kundarkar, Pandharpur City Police Station, present.
Digitally
_________________________________________________________________
signed by
SHANTANU
SHANTANU SHANKARSA
SHANKARSA DHUDUM
DHUDUM Date:
2026.09.28
21:04:36
+0530
CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.
DATE : 28th SEPTEMBER, 2026.
P.C.
1. Heard Mr. Ganesh M. Khatkale, learned Advocate for the
Applicant, Dr. Ashvini A. Takalkar, learned A.P.P. for Respondent Nos.1 and
2 – State and Mr. Vaibhav Gaikwad, learned Advocate for the Intervenor /
Complainant.
2. On 4th February, 2026, the following order was passed :
“1. Heard. Issue notice to the respondents, returnable on 18 th
February, 2026.
2. Learned APP waives notice on behalf of the respondent
no.1 – State.
Shantanu S. Dhudum
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31-ABA-69-2026 (CR).DOC
3. Learned advocate Mr. Vaibhav Gaikwad submits that he
has instructions to appear on behalf of the informant.
4. In the event of arrest of applicant Mahesh Baban
Shendekar in connection with C.R. No.660 of 2025
registered with Pandharpur City Police Station, District
Solapur, he shall be released on bail on executing P.R.
Bond in the sum of Rs.15,000/- with one surety in the
like amount.
5. The applicant shall attend the concerned police station
from 7th February, 2026 to 13th February, 2026 between
10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and shall co-operate in the
investigation.”
3. On 10th March, 2026, the following order was passed:
“1. At the request of the parties and by consent, stand over
to 26th March, 2026, for hearing.
2. The Applicant is directed to attend the concerned Police
Station on 17th & 18th March, 2026, between 11:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m.
3. Ad-interim relief, if any, granted earlier, to continue till
the next date.”
4. On 8th April, 2026, the following order was passed:
“1. Stand over to 18th April, 2026.
2. Ad-interim relief, if any, granted earlier, to continue till
the next date.”
Shantanu S. Dhudum
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5. On 15th June, 2026, the following order was passed:
“1. Record indicates that the interim relief has been
operating since 4th February, 2026. There is no report of
any breach of violation of the conditions imposed by this
Court. According, the interim relief granted earlier shall
continue until further orders.
2. Stand over to 6th July, 2026.”
6. Mr. Ganesh M. Khatkale, learned Advocate for the Applicant,
submits that the Applicant (Accused No.2) in Crime No.660 of 2025 has
appeared before the Investigating Officer and co-operated with the
investigation in Crime No.660 of 2025. He submits that the investigation is
complete.
7. Dr. Ashvini A. Takalkar, learned A.P.P. for the Respondent – State,
on instructions from the Investigating Officer, submits that the Applicant
had appeared before the Investigating Officer and co-operated with the
investigation in Crime No.660 of 2025. She submits that, upon completion
of the investigation, the charge-sheet has been filed before the Court of the
learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Pandharpur, and the same is
registered as R.C.C. No.84 of 2026.
8. Mr. Ganesh M. Khatkale, learned Advocate for the Applicant, on
instructions from the Applicant, states that the Applicant is appearing
Shantanu S. Dhudum
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31-ABA-69-2026 (CR).DOC
before the Court of the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Pandharpur,
in R.C.C. No.84 of 2026.
9. Mr. Vaibhav Gaikwad, learned Advocate for the Intervenor /
Complainant, opposes this Application and submits that custodial
interrogation of the Applicant is required.
10. Considering the aforesaid statements made by Mr. Ganesh M.
Khatkale, learned Advocate for the Applicant and Dr. Ashvini A. Takalkar,
learned A.P.P. for the Respondent – State, that the Applicant has appeared
before the Investigating Officer and has co-operated with the investigation
in Crime No.660 of 2025, that the investigation is complete that the
charge-sheet has been filed which is registered as R.C.C. No.84 of 2026
and is pending before the Court of the learned Judicial Magistrate First
Class, Pandharpur, and further considering that the Applicant has been on
interim bail since 4th February 2026, the said order dated 4th February
2026 is hereby confirmed and made absolute in terms of paragraph No.4.
11. Anticipatory Bail Application No.69 of 2026 is allowed and
disposed of.
( ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)
Shantanu S. Dhudum
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