Bombay High Court
NITIN ANIL KHADSEversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
- Decided
- Disposal
- Allowed
Holding
Bail is granted to the applicant subject to the conditions imposed by the court.
Summary
The High Court considered a bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 by Nitin Anil Khadse, who was arrested in connection with an alleged cheating offence under Section 420 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code arising from a commodity investment scheme. The prosecution alleged that Khadse induced investors to deposit money, but the court found no material on record establishing inducement or luring of investors. The applicant had no prior criminal record, his wife was already on bail, and he had been discharged from related MPID charges. On a prima facie basis, the court held that the evidence was insufficient to deny bail and therefore granted bail subject to strict conditions. The order expressly limited its observations to bail and clarified that the trial would proceed on the merits of the evidence.
Issues considered
- Whether the applicant is entitled to bail under Section 483 of the BNSS 2023 despite the pending charge of cheating under IPC Section 420 r/w Section 34.
- Whether the prosecution has established a prima facie case of inducement or cheating sufficient to justify denial of bail.
Legislation cited
- Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 483
- Indian Penal Code — s. 34, 420
Subjects
- bail
- Section 483 BNSS
- IPC 420
- cheating
- commodity investment fraud
- prima facie case
- bail conditions
- criminal procedure
Judgment
11. BA 3578-2026.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3578 OF 2026
Nitin Anil Khadse .Applicant
Vs.
The State of Maharashtra .Respondent
Ms. Priyal G. Sarda a/w. Ms. Seema S. Dighe, Advocates, for the
ANAND Applicant
SUDHAKAR Mr. S. A. Karmakar, APP, for the Respondent – State
SUDAME Mr. Shreeniwas N. Magar, Advocate, for the Complainant
Digitally signed by
ANAND SUDHAKAR
SUDAME
Date: 2026.09.24
CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J.
16:24:43 +0530
DATE : 23.09.2026
P. C.
1. Heard Mr. Sarda, learned Counsel for the Applicant and Mr.
Karmakar, learned APP for the Respondent – State.
2. This Application is filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) in connection with
C.R.No. 946 of 2024 registered with Chaturshringi Police Station, Pune
for offence punishable under Section 420 r/w. 34 of the Indian Penal
Code, 1860 (for short “IPC”).
3. The Applicant is arraigned as an Accused along with his wife.
They have been running a commodity investment firm, whereby they
would accept deposits for investments in shares/commodity markets
Anand 1 of 6
11. BA 3578-2026.doc
with the consent of investors. Admittedly, the prosecution case reflects
that from 2018 to 2024, the investors invested substantial amounts
with the Applicant for further investment in share/commodity market
and it also fetched handsome returns. It is the case of the Applicant,
who failed to receive returns after 2024 that the Accused persons have
cheated and therefore, FIR is filed on 30.11.2024. The Applicant is
arrested on 25.03.2025. Though it is argued by the prosecution and
also by the learned Advocate appearing for the Complainant/First
Informant that the Applicant had induced the Complainant and others
to invest the amount, such is not the case which is borne out from the
material which is placed on record or the Charge-sheet placed before
this Court.
4. Mr. Magar, learned Counsel for the Complainant/First Informant
has, however, passionately persuaded the Court to reject the present
Application on the premise that the Complainant/First Informant and
many similarly placed investors have been duped by the Applicant and
therefore, the Applicant should be denied bail. He would argue that
pursuant to rejection of the Bail Application of the Applicant by the
learned trial Court in the month of November, 2025, there has been no
change in circumstances to enable the Applicant to approach this Court
and seek bail. He would in his usual fair mindedness submit that the
Anand 2 of 6
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Applicant has been discharged in MPID charges vide order dated
16.10.2025 and the matter has now been relegated to the Magistrate’s
Court for trial and according to his instructions, the trial is prolonged
and protracted by the Applicant. He would also persuade the Court to
direct the Applicant to return the outstanding arrears amount to the
Complainant/First Informant.
5. I have considered the submissions made by Mr. Sarda, Mr. Magar
and the learned Prosecutor and with their able assistance perused the
record of the case. Prima facie, I find that there is no material which is
shown to the Court to charge the Applicant on inducement and/or the
Applicant and his wife having lured the investors. The Applicant has no
antecedents. His wife is already enlarged on bail. He has been
discharged from MPID offences. In this case, on their own volition
monies were invested with an expert firm/company with the hope of
getting fabulous returns on such investments when invested in
share/commodity market transactions. It is is prima facie seen that all
the investors have shared a healthy relationship over a long period of
time with Applicant. Hence, unless and until a strong prima facie case
is made out for cheating under Section 420 of the IPC, the Court at this
prima facie stage will have to consider bail. The matter is for bail and
complicity of the Applicant in the crime would undoubtedly be proved
Anand 3 of 6
11. BA 3578-2026.doc
at trial. Mr. Sarda has made out an arguable case for grant of bail. The
Application is granted.
6. It is also informed by the learned Prosecutor that revision
proceeding to challenge the discharge order by the Special Court is
pending before this Court.
7. Registry is directed to accept Vakalatnama from Mr. Magar,
learned Counsel for the Complainant/First Informant within a period of
two week from today.
8. Hence, in view of above prima facie observations and finding,
Bail Application of Applicant is allowed subject to the following terms
and conditions:-
(i) Applicant – Nitin Anil Khadse is directed to be
immediately released from prison in connection with
CR. No. 946 of 2024;
(ii) Applicant is directed to be released on bail on furnishing
P.R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- (Rs. Twenty Five Thousand
only) with one surety of the like amount;
(iii) Applicant shall report to the Investigating Officer at
Chaturshringi Police Station, Pune, once every month,
on the first Monday of the month between 10:00 a.m. to
12:00 p.m. until commencement of trial and thereafter
Anand 4 of 6
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shall attend all dates of hearing before the Trial Court;
(iv) Applicant shall cooperate with the conduct of the trial
and remain present before the Trial Court on all dates,
unless specifically exempted. Applicant shall not seek
unnecessary adjournments. Any such conduct shall
entitle the prosecution to apply for cancellation of bail;
(v) Applicant shall not leave the State of Maharashtra
without prior permission of the Trial Court;
(vi) Applicant shall not influence any of the witnesses or
tamper with the evidence in any manner;
(vii) Applicant shall keep the Investigating Officer informed
of his current residential address and mobile telephone
number and shall forthwith inform the Investigating
Officer of any change in his residential address or
mobile telephone number, as and when such change
occurs; and
(viii)Any breach or infraction of any of the aforesaid
conditions shall entail cancellation of the bail granted to
the Applicant.
9. It is clarified that the observations made in this order are limited
Anand 5 of 6
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for the purpose of granting bail only and I have not made any
observations on merits of the case. The trial shall be adjudicated on
the strength of the evidence led and strictly on its own merits being
uninfluenced with any of the prima facie observations made
hereinabove in this order.
10. Bail Application is allowed and disposed in the above terms.
(MILIND N. JADHAV, J.)
Anand 6 of 6
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