Bombay High Court
PRANJAL DILIP TAWAREversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA
- Decided
- Disposal
- Allowed
Holding
The court held that, on a prima facie assessment showing lack of substantive evidence and considering the applicant’s gender and role as family breadwinner, bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 was warranted.
Summary
The Bombay High Court considered an application for bail filed by Pranjal Dilip Taware under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with offences alleged under Sections 103(1), 324(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The applicant, a young female gym trainer and family breadwinner, claimed she had sought police help prior to the incident and that the prosecution’s case relied on contradictory, self‑interested witness statements with no substantive evidence of the alleged crimes. The court observed that the prima facie record did not support the prosecution’s narrative and gave weight to the applicant’s gender and economic role. Consequently, the court granted bail subject to a personal bond of Rs.15,000 and several conditions, including regular reporting to the investigating officer and non‑interference with witnesses. The order expressly limited its observations to bail and noted 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 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for the alleged offences under Sections 103(1), 324(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Whether the prima facie evidence presented by the prosecution is insufficient to justify denial of bail
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 483
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — s. 103(1), 324(4), 3(5)
Subjects
- bail
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
- gender considerations
- prima facie evidence
- criminal procedure
- conditions of bail
Judgment
17.BA.3706.2026.doc
HARSHADA H. SAWANT
(P.A.)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
BAIL APPLICATION NO.3706 OF 2026
Pranjal Dilip Taware .. Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra .. Respondent
....................
Mr. Vipul Dushing a/w. Mr. Tanmay Kate and Mr. Bhagwat Torane,
Advocates for Applicant.
Mr. Yogesh M. Nakhwa, APP for Respondent.
...................
CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J.
DATE : SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
P.C.:
1. Heard Mr. Dushing, learned Advocate for Applicant and Mr.
Nakhwa, learned APP for Respondent.
2. This is an Application under Section 483 of Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking Bail in connection with C.R.
No.382 of 2025 registered with Dighi Police Station for offences
punishable under Sections 103(1), 324(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
3. The Applicant is a woman and a young offender. By
profession, she is a gymnasium trainer and a partner in a shop which
sells materials pertaining to health.
4. The record prima facie, shows that the Applicant had
explicitly sought Police assistance by calling the 112 helpline number
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of the Police one day prior to the incident in view of the aggravated
behavior of the deceased-victim towards her since it has prima facie
come on record that the deceased-victim used to repeatedly harass her
by visiting her shop premises. The prosecution has, pursuant to the
incident in question come up with a story that the Applicant was
considered as a sister by the deceased and he had advanced a sum of
Rs.25,00,000/- to her and he used to repeatedly seek return of the said
amount. There is not an iota of evidence which is collected by the
prosecution post-incident which prima facie shows or proves such a
case of the prosecution. The case of the prosecution is merely based
upon certain statements of witnesses rather interested witnesses which
are themselves on the face of record, contradictory to each other. The
Applicant is incarcerated since 13.08.2025 for over more than one
year.
5. I am inclined to consider the case of the Applicant for grant
of bail in view of my aforesaid prima facie observation and findings
and more specifically the fact that she is a woman and the bread
earner for her family since the entire livelihood of her family is
dependent on her.
6. Considering the aforesaid, Applicant is released on bail
subject to following conditions:-
(i) Applicant - Pranjal Dilip Taware is directed to be
immediately released from prison in connection with
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Crime No.382 of 2025;
(ii) Applicant is directed to be released on bail on
furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs. 15,000/- (Rs. Fifteen
Thousand only) with one or two surety / sureties of the
like amount;
(iii) Applicant shall report to the Investigating Officer at
Dighi Police Station, once every month on the first
Monday of the month between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00
p.m.;
(iv) Applicant shall co-operate with the conduct of trial and
attend the Trial Court on all dates, unless specifically
exempted and will not take any unnecessary
adjournments, if she does so it will entitle the
prosecution to apply for revocation of this order;
(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 her current address and mobile contact number and /
or change of residence or mobile details, if any, from
time to time, as applicable; and
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(viii)Any infraction of the conditions shall entail cancellation
of bail granted to the Applicant.
7. It is clarified that the observations made in this order are
limited 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.
8. Bail Application is allowed and disposed of in the above
terms.
H. H. SAWANT [ MILIND N. JADHAV, J. ]
Digitally signed
by HARSHADA
HARSHADA HANUMANT
HANUMANT SAWANT
SAWANT Date:
2026.10.01
12:17:06 +0530
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