Bombay High Court

PRADUMNA PRADIP CHAVANversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Disposal: APPLICATION ALLOWED
Bench: SACHIN S DESHMUKH

Holding

The court granted bail, finding no prima facie material linking the applicant to the suicide.

Summary

The applicant, Pradumna s/o Pradip Chavan, was charged under Section 108 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for alleged involvement in the suicide of Vaibhav. The prosecution alleged that the applicant had demanded money from Vaibhav, which purportedly led to the latter's suicide. The applicant contended that he was falsely implicated and that there was no proximate or compelling reason linking him to the deceased's death. The court examined the investigation records and found no prima facie evidence establishing the applicant's role in the suicide. Consequently, the court held that continued incarceration was unjustified and granted regular bail with conditions.

Issues considered

Whether the applicant should be granted bail in a case of alleged abetment of suicide under Section 108 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, given the absence of prima facie evidence.

Legislation cited

Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — s. 108

Subjects

bail
suicide
abetment
Section 108
Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita
investigation
prima facie evidence

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:7270
                                                             Bail Appln.No.140/2026
                                          :: 1 ::




                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF BOMBAY

                               BENCH AT AURANGABAD


                          BAIL APPLICATION NO.140 OF 2026


            Pradumna s/o Pradip Chavan                   … APPLICANT

                    VERSUS

            The State of Maharashtra                     … RESPONDENT

                                            .......
            Mr. S.S. Ghate, Advocate for applicant
            Mr. D.B. Bhange, A.P.P. for respondent – State
                                            ....…


                                  CORAM : SACHIN S. DESHMUKH, J.
                                  DATE     : 17th FEBRUARY, 2026

            PER COURT :


            1.         The applicant seeks release on regular bail in

            connection with Crime No.13/2026, registered with Loha Police

            Station, District Nanded for the offence punishable under Section

            108 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.


            2.         The prosecution case is that, on 26/12/2025, the son of

            the informant namely Vaibhav left in the morning for opening his
                                                Bail Appln.No.140/2026
                               :: 2 ::


mobile shopee, however, he did not turn up, therefore, inquiries

were made with relatives, but he could be traced. Thereafter, on

29/12/2025, it was informed by Narayan Warpade that, Vaibhav

had hanged himself in the field of Balaji Jondhale in Kiroda Shivar.

On reaching the spot, Vaibhav was found in hanging condition.


3.          On the basis of report given on 30/12/2025, an

accidental death came to be registered and request was made to

conduct discreet inquiry into the death of Vaibhav. A suspicion was

raised on the present applicant on account of phone calls for

demand of money towards finance. As such, it is alleged that, fed

up with the demand of finance, Vaibhav committed suicide and left

a chit in shirt pocket.


4.          Learned counsel for the applicant submits that, the

applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case.       The

proximate reasons attributable to the applicant are absent

compelling the deceased to commit suicide.        As such, further

incarceration of the applicant is unjustified. Therefore, prayed to

allow the application.


5.          Per contra, learned A.P.P. vehemently opposed the
                                                  Bail Appln.No.140/2026
                                 :: 3 ::


application, contending that, there is material on record collected by

the investigating officer establishing the fact that the applicant is

responsible for the suicide committed by the deceased.


6.           Upon considering the submissions of both the sides and

perusing the material on record, the material collected during the

course of investigation does not, prima facie, indicate any

proximate and compelling reasons attributable to the present

applicant which drove the deceased to commit suicide.              The

investigation is almost complete for all intent and purposes. As

such, further incarceration of the applicant is unjustified. In that

view of the matter, the applicant deserves to be admitted to bail.


7.           Hence the order :


                             ORDER


(i)      Bail Application is allowed.

(ii)     The applicant Pradumna Pradip Chavan be released on

         bail on furnishing P.B. and S.B. of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees

         Fifty Thousand) with one solvent surety of the like amount

         in the above crime, on the conditions that :

       (a)      The applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution
                                                  Bail Appln.No.140/2026
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                witnesses in any way.

        (b)     The applicant shall remain present on each date,

                unless exempted by the trial Court.

(iii)     Needless to state that, the observations rendered herein

          are confined to the present application, and the trial Court

          shall decide the trial on its own merits and in accordance

          with law.



                                    (SACHIN S. DESHMUKH, J.)




fmp/-

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