Bombay High Court
MEENA DAMODAR PANDHAREversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA
- Decided
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
- Bench
- SHIVKUMAR DIGE
Holding
The court granted regular bail to the applicant on cash bail of Rs.25,000 with a personal bond.
Summary
Meena Damodar Pandhare applied for regular bail in a case involving alleged tampering of city survey maps and providing false maps under the RTI Act, charged under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code including fraud, forgery and criminal conspiracy. The prosecution alleged that she knowingly supplied maps showing non‑existent structures to benefit illegal constructions. The defence argued that the only specific allegation against her was the provision of four maps, she has no prior record, is a government officer and a woman, and that three co‑accused have already been released on bail. The court considered the seriousness of the offences, the risk of absconding, her personal circumstances and the fact that further custodial interrogation was unnecessary. It ordered that she be released on cash bail of Rs.25,000 with a personal bond of the same amount, and directed her to furnish surety within two months, disposing the bail application accordingly.
Issues considered
- Whether the applicant, a government servant accused of offences under Sections 465, 467, 468, 471, 409, 420, 120(B) and 201 IPC, is entitled to regular bail.
- Whether the alleged provision of false maps under the RTI Act constitutes a ground to deny bail.
Legislation cited
- Indian Penal Code, 1860 — s. 120(B), 201, 34, 409, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471
- Right to Information Act
Subjects
- bail
- IPC
- forgery
- criminal conspiracy
- RTI Act
- government servant
- female accused
Judgment
904-BA-4567-2025 (CR).doc
Shubhada S Kadam
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
BAIL APPLICATION NO. 4567 OF 2025
Meena Damodar Pandhare ….Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra ….Respondent
_________________________________________________________________
Mr. Wahid Khot along with Mr. Gaurav Parkar, Advocate for Applicant.
Mr. S. R. Agarkar, APP for Respondent-State.
API-Rahul Prabha with PSI-Kanade, DCB, CID, Unit-08.
_________________________________________________________________
CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.
DATE : 10th JULY, 2026.
P.C. :
1. By this application, applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime
No.90 of 2024 registered with DCB, CID, Unit 08, Mumbai for the offences
punishable under Sections 465, 467, 468, 471, 409, 420, 120(B) and 201
read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
2. It is prosecution’s case that from period between June 2019 to
December 2019 about eight city survey maps comprising of twenty-two city
survey maps in City Survey Office, Goregaon were fabricated and
manipulated. The manipulation was detected in the year 2019 during
digitization of records. It is alleged that the applicant and co-accused
Digitally
signed by
SHUBHADA
SHUBHADA SHANKAR conspired and tampered with City Survey Maps of Goreagon area, which
SHANKAR KADAM
KADAM Date:
2026.07.10
18:29:01 were in their custody and showed certain structures constructed on the
+0530
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Shubhada S Kadam
said property. In fact, there were no structures on the said property. The
said tampering was done to reap benefits of illegal constructions. The
allegations against the applicant are that she provided the maps under RTI
Act, when the structure was not in existence, shown to be structure in
existence.
3. It is contention of learned counsel for applicant that, except for
allegation of providing four maps under RTI application, there are no other
allegations against applicant. The main allegations are against co-accused.
The applicant is behind bars for around 16 months. She is a lady, she is a
government officer, and she is not going to abscond. She has no
antecedents. Three co-accused have been released on on regular bail, and
requested to allow the application.
4. It is contention of learned APP that applicant had provided nine
maps under RTI. She was aware that structure shown was not in existence
on the said land, which shows her involvement in the crime. If she is
released on bail, she may abscond, and requested to reject the application.
5. I have heard both learned counsel, perused charge-sheet and
documents produced on record. Investigation is completed and charge-
sheet has been filed. Allegations against applicant are of providing maps
under RTI. Considering the allegations against the applicant as well as the
applicant is a government servant, she is a lady, and she is behind bars for
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Shubhada S Kadam
around 16 months, her further custodial interrogation is not required. It
may take time to conclude the trial. Considering these facts, I pass
following order:
ORDER
1. The applicant be released on cash bail of Rs.25,000/- with the
PR bond of the same amount.
2. The applicant shall furnish surety of the same amount within
two months after release from jail.
The application is disposed of in above terms.
6. All concerned to act on the authenticated copy of this order.
(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)
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