Bombay High Court

PANKAJ BHASKAR PAWARversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Disposal: Allowed
Bench: NITIN B SURYAWANSHI

Holding

The applicants are entitled to bail on the ground of parity as the co-accused in the same crime has been granted bail by this Court.

Summary

The applicants Pankaj Bhaskar Pawar and Nitin Baburao Dhone sought bail in Crime No.690 of 2025 registered at Mohol Police Station, Solapur Rural, for offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. The prosecution alleged that on secret information, police raided Aryan Lodge and found prostitution was going on, and that the applicant suggested the victim to go to the lodge for prostitution. The applicants sought bail on the ground of parity, as co-accused Rizwana Jabir Shaikh had been granted bail by the High Court on 19 December 2025. Pankaj was arrested on 19 June 2025 and Nitin on 25 July 2025, and the charge-sheet was filed on 13 August 2025. The Court noted that the co-accused had been granted bail and held that the applicants were entitled to bail on parity. The bail applications were allowed, with each applicant directed to execute a personal bond of Rs.20,000 with one or two sureties, attend court dates regularly, and not tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.

Issues considered

Whether the applicants are entitled to bail on the ground of parity with the co-accused who was granted bail in the same crime?
Whether the applicants should be granted bail in respect of offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956?

Legislation cited

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — s. 143(2), 144(2), 3(5)
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 — s. 3, 4, 5, 6

Subjects

Bail
Parity
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Prostitution
Criminal Law
Charge-sheet
Sureties

Judgment

1
22-BA-3683-2025 AW 88-BA-3705-2025 (CR).DOC

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3683 OF 2025

Pankaj Bhaskar Pawar ...Applicant
Vs.
State of Maharashtra ...Respondent

WITH
CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3705 OF 2025

Nitin Baburao Dhone ...Applicant
Vs.
The State of Maharashtra ...Respondent
-----
Digitally
Mr. Santosh Potdar a/w Mr. Javed Shaikh, Mr. Shreyas Samant, Adv.
signed by
SHANTANU
SHANTANU SHANKARSA
SHANKARSA DHUDUM
DHUDUM Date:
Jolly Bhuttelo and Mr. Santosh Chougule, for Applicant in
2026.01.28
19:37:34
+0530
BA/3683/2025.
Mr. Jaydeep Mane, for Applicant in BA/3705/2025.
Mr. P. P. Deokar, APP, for the Respondent-State in BA/3683/2025.
Dr. A. A. Takalkar, APP, for the Respondent-State in BA/3705/2025.
-----

CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J.
DATE : 28th JANUARY 2026.
P.C.

1. Both the Applicants seek bail in Crime No.690 of 2025

registered with Mohol Police Station, Solapur Rural, for the offences

punishable under Sections 143(2), 144(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya

Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, “BNS Act”) and Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6

of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

Shantanu S. Dhudum
2
22-BA-3683-2025 AW 88-BA-3705-2025 (CR).DOC

2. Prosecution case in short is that on secret information,

police raided Aryan Lodge and found that prostitution was going on.

It is alleged that the Applicant suggested the victim to go to the said

lodge for doing prostitution.

3. The Applicants seek bail on the ground of parity as co-

accused in present crime namely Rizwana Jabir Shaikh is granted bail

by this Court (Coram: Shivkumar Dige, J.) vide order dated 19 th

December, 2025.

4. The Applicants Pankaj Bhaskar Pawar is arrested on 19th

June, 2025 and Nitin Baburao Dhone is arrested on 25 th July, 2025.

Charge-sheet in the present crime is filed on 13th August, 2025.

5. This Court has granted bail to the co-accused Rizwana Jabir

Shaikh. Therefore, on the ground of parity, the Applicants are entitled

for bail.

6. In the result, applications are allowed.

7. The Applicants - Pankaj Bhaskar Pawar and Nitin Baburao

Dhone be enlarged on bail in connection with Crime No.690 of 2025

registered with Mohol Police Station, Solapur Rural, District: Solapur,

on executing Personal Bond of Rs.20,000/- each with one or two

sureties in the like amount.

8. The Applicants shall attend the Court dates regularly.

Shantanu S. Dhudum
3
22-BA-3683-2025 AW 88-BA-3705-2025 (CR).DOC

9. The Applicants shall not tamper with the evidence or

attempt to influence or contact the complainant, witnesses or any

person concerned with the case.

10. The Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms and is

accordingly disposed of.

(NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J.)

Shantanu S. Dhudum

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