PRAVIN PRAKASH BHOSALEversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR

                                                              9 ABA NO. 892 OF 2025



             IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                     CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR
                     CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
             ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 892 OF 2025
                             Pravin Prakash Bhosale
                                    VERSUS
                       State Of Maharashtra And Another
                                       …
       •   Mr. Pravin Mengane, Advocate a/w. Mr. Mohan Chhagan
           Kumbhar, Advocate for the Applicant
       •   Mr. A. S. Salgaonkar, APP for Respondent No. 1 – State
       •   Mr. Ramnik Pawar, a/w. Mr. Parrej Nadaf, Advocates for
           Intervenor/Complainant
                                       …
                                    CORAM : MEHROZ K. PATHAN, J.
                                    DATED : 25.06.2026
PER COURT :

1.         Heard learned counsel for the applicant, the learned APP for

the respondent - State as also learned counsel for Intervenor /

Complainant.

2.         The applicant has approached this Court apprehending arrest

in connection with C.R. No.362 of 2024 dated 18.06.2024 registered

with Vadgaon Police Station, District Kolhapur, for the offences

punishable under Sections 406, 409, 417, 420 and 120-B read with

Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

3.         The prosecution case, in brief, is that the first informant, who

has been running a power-loom business at village Kondigre since

2015, suffered financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic and

was in search of financial assistance. He came into contact with

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accused Mahesh Rampure, who allegedly assured him that a loan of

Rs.1 crore would be arranged through Sharanya Urban Multipurpose

Nidhi Bank Ltd., Wathar Turf Vadgaon. Acting on such assurance, the

informant allegedly paid Rs.1,00,000/- towards processing charges

and Rs.4,000/- for opening a savings account. Thereafter, the accused

induced him to complete various formalities including execution of

documents and purchase of stamp papers on the assurance that the

loan would be sanctioned. Though the accused subsequently issued a

share certificate and passbook and represented that the loan amount

would shortly be disbursed, no loan was ever sanctioned. Alleging

that he had been dishonestly induced to part with money on false

representations, the informant lodged the present FIR.

4.     Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant

has been falsely implicated. It is submitted that eleven co-accused

have already been granted bail. According to him, the applicant was

not concerned with the day-to-day affairs of Sharanya Urban

Multipurpose Nidhi Bank Ltd., Wathar Turf Vadgaon and did not hold

any responsible post in the management of the bank. It is further

submitted that the applicant's wife is suffering from serious ailments

and the applicant himself has also been undergoing medical

treatment. This Court had granted interim protection to the applicant

by order dated 08.04.2025, which was subsequently continued by

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order dated 05.02.2026. During the subsistence of the interim

protection, the applicant has complied with all the conditions

imposed by this Court and has cooperated with the investigation. It is

further submitted that the applicant, without prejudice to his rights

and contentions, is willing to deposit a sum of Rs.1,50,000/- before

the Trial Court to demonstrate his bona fides. The applicant has no

established criminal antecedents and is ready to abide by any

conditions that may be imposed. Hence, he prays that the application

be allowed.

5.     Per contra, the learned APP, supported by the learned counsel

for the intervenor, strongly opposes the application. It is submitted

that the applicant is the main accused and was the Chairman of

Sharanya Urban Multipurpose Nidhi Bank Ltd., Wathar Turf Vadgaon.

It is further submitted that the applicant, along with accused No.1 –

Pradnya Pravin Bhosale and the other accused, entered into a

criminal conspiracy and actively participated in the fraudulent

transactions. According to the prosecution, the amount involved

exceeds Rs.50 lakhs and no effective recovery has yet been effected.

Therefore, custodial interrogation of the applicant is necessary for

recovery of the misappropriated amount and for carrying the

investigation to its logical conclusion. It is, therefore, prayed that the

application be rejected.

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6.     Learned counsel appearing for the intervenor further submits

that another crime has also been registered against the applicant at

Vadgaon Police Station. It is contended that if the applicant is granted

anticipatory bail, there is every likelihood that he may influence the

witnesses, tamper with the prosecution evidence and thereby

prejudice the investigation.

7.     I have carefully considered the rival submissions and perused

the investigation papers made available by the learned APP. I have

also gone through the orders passed by this Court dated 08.04.2025

and 05.02.2026 granting and continuing interim protection to the

applicant, subject to certain conditions, including his attendance

before the concerned police station. The learned APP, on instructions

from the Investigating Officer, fairly submits that the applicant has

complied with the conditions imposed by this Court and has attended

the concerned police station as directed.

8.     The medical documents placed on record indicate that the

applicant has undergone serious medical treatment after allegedly

attempting to commit suicide. Considering his medical condition, this

Court had granted interim protection from arrest. During the period

of such protection, the applicant has cooperated with the

investigation and there is nothing on record to indicate that he has

misused the liberty granted to him.

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9.          The applicant has also expressed his willingness to deposit a

sum of Rs.1,50,000/- before the Trial Court, without prejudice to his

rights and contentions, to demonstrate his bona fides. Though it is

alleged that the applicant has criminal antecedents, no material has

been placed before this Court to substantiate the said contention.

Considering the nature of allegations, the applicant's cooperation

with the investigation during the period of interim protection, his

medical condition and the fact that the investigation can be

safeguarded by imposing appropriate conditions, I am of the opinion

that this is a fit case to exercise discretion under Section 482 of the

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

10.         Hence, the following order :-

                                    ORDER
       i.      The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed.
       ii. In the event of arrest of the applicant Pravin Prakash
               Bhosale in connection with C.R. No.362 of 2024 dated
               18.06.2024 registered with Vadgaon Police Station, District
               Kolhapur, for the offences punishable under Sections 406,
               409, 417, 420 and 120-B read with Section 34 of the Indian
               Penal Code, 1860, he shall be released on bail on furnishing
               a P.R. Bond of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only)
               with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount, to the
               satisfaction of the Arresting Officer/Investigating Officer.
       iii. The interim order dated 05.02.2026 is confirmed, subject to
               the following further conditions:

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          A)   The applicant shall attend the concerned police station
               and report to the Investigating Officer on every
               Saturday till framing of the charge, between 12:00
               noon and 2:00 p.m.
          B)   The applicant shall deposit a sum of Rs.1,50,000/-
               before the learned Trial Court within a period of three
               weeks from today, without prejudice to his rights and
               contentions. Failure to deposit the aforesaid amount
               within the stipulated period shall entail automatic
               vacation of the protection granted by this order.
          C)   The    Applicant     shall   also   cooperate       with       the
               investigation.
          D)   The applicant shall not directly or indirectly induce,
               threaten or promise any prosecution witness and shall
               not tamper with the prosecution evidence in any
               manner.
          E)   The applicant shall furnish copies of his Aadhaar Card
               and PAN Card, along with his residential address,
               mobile number and the particulars of two close
               relatives, to the Investigating Officer and shall
               intimate any change therein during the pendency of
               the proceedings.


11.    Needless to state that a single violation of any of the aforesaid

conditions shall entitle the prosecution to seek cancellation of the

anticipatory bail granted herein.




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12.    The observations made herein are prima facie in nature and

confined to the adjudication of the present anticipatory bail

application. The Trial Court shall decide the case independently on its

own merits, uninfluenced by any observations made in this order.

13.    The     Anticipatory   Bail   Application   stands   disposed         of

accordingly.




                                        ( MEHROZ K. PATHAN, J. )




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