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Bombay High Court

GOVINDRAO JOTIRAO BANGEversusTANAJI APPASAHEB BAGADI AND ANR

Disposal
Disposed Off

Holding

The appeals are to be transferred to the Sessions Court having jurisdiction.

Summary

The High Court of Bombay, Kolhapur Circuit Bench, heard multiple criminal appeals (Nos. 983‑986 of 2013) where none of the appellants or their counsel were present. The State’s assistant public prosecutor, Mr. S. H. Yadav, relied on the Supreme Court’s decision in Celestium Financial v. A. Gnanasekaran (2025 SCC OnLine SC 1320) to argue that the matters should be tried before a Sessions Court having jurisdiction. The Court agreed, ordering that the appeals be transferred to the appropriate Sessions Court, re‑registered, and that the Sessions Court issue notices and expedite the proceedings. Consequently, the appeals were disposed of by transfer, and any interim applications were also dismissed.

Issues considered

  • Whether the High Court has jurisdiction to try the criminal appeals or they should be transferred to a Sessions Court
  • Whether the Supreme Court precedent in Celestium Financial v. A. Gnanasekaran applies to these appeals

Subjects

  • jurisdiction
  • transfer of proceedings
  • criminal appeal
  • Sessions Court
  • High Court
  • procedural order

Judgment

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                                                               501-APEAL-983-2013 AND CONNECTED MATTERS.DOC


                                         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                                CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR

                                              CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

                                               CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.983 OF 2013

                            Govindrao Jotirao Bange                                    ….Appellant
                                  VERSUS
                            Tanaji Appasaheb Bagadi and Anr.                           ....Respondents

                                                           WITH
                                               CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.984 OF 2013

                            Vidyadhar Shamrao Bange                                    ….Appellant
                                  VERSUS
                            Tanaji Appasaheb Bagadi and Anr.                           ....Respondents
                                                           WITH
                                               CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.985 OF 2013

                            Shankarrao Jotirao Bange                                   ….Appellant
                                  VERSUS
            Digitally
            signed by
                            Tanaji Appasaheb Bagadi and Anr.                           ....Respondents
            SHANTANU
SHANTANU
SHANKARSA
            SHANKARSA
            DHUDUM                                         WITH
DHUDUM      Date:
            2026.09.24
            18:40:14                           CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.986 OF 2013
            +0530




                            Rangrao Jotirao Bange                                      ….Appellant
                                  VERSUS
                            Tanaji Appasaheb bagadi and Anr.                           ....Respondents

                            _________________________________________________________________


                            None for Appellant.
                            Mr. S. H. Yadav, APP, for the Respondent-State.
                            _________________________________________________________________



                                              CORAM        :     ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.
                                              DATE         :     24th SEPTEMBER, 2026.




                   Shantanu S. Dhudum
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                                            501-APEAL-983-2013 AND CONNECTED MATTERS.DOC


         P.C.


         1.          When these matters are called out, neither the Appellant nor the

         Advocate for the Appellant are present physically or through V. C. mode.


         2.          Learned APP for the Respondent – State, by referring to the

         decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Celestium Financial

         Vs. A. Gnanasekaran Etc., reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1320 , submits

         that these proceedings would now lay before the Sessions Court having

         jurisdiction. He therefore submits that these proceedings be transferred to

         the Sessions Court having jurisdiction.


         3.          In view of the above, the following order is passed :-


         (i)         The present proceedings be transferred to the Sessions Court,

         having jurisdiction;


         (ii)        The Registrar (Judicial) of this Court to take appropriate steps

         for transferring these proceedings to the Sessions Court, having

         jurisdiction;


         (iii)       The Sessions Court, to which these proceedings would be

         transferred or assigned, after re-registration of the same, shall issue notice

         to the parties to the said proceedings and thereafter proceed with the

         matters on its own merits and in accordance with law.




Shantanu S. Dhudum
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                                             501-APEAL-983-2013 AND CONNECTED MATTERS.DOC


         (iv)        Considering the proceedings which are now being transferred

         have been pending for some time, the Sessions Court to which these

         proceedings would be assigned is requested to make an endeavour to

         expedite the proceedings. Parties shall cooperate in the early disposal of

         the proceedings.


         4.           Criminal Appeal Nos.983, 984, 985 and 986 of 2014 are

         disposed of.


         5.          Interim Application, if any, is also disposed of.




                                                        ( ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)




Shantanu S. Dhudum


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