Bombay High Court

NABALA EDITH D/O BATE LAWRENCEversusUNION OF INDIA AND ANR

Decided: 2 February 2026
Disposal: Disposed off as Withdrawn
Bench: NEELA KEDAR GOKHALE

Holding

The High Court allowed the withdrawal of the bail application and disposed of it as withdrawn.

Summary

The applicant, Nabala Edith, filed a bail application in a criminal case where she has been in custody since October 2023 and charges were framed in January 2025. The applicant's counsel sought permission to withdraw the bail application, citing that a co-accused's bail application had been allowed to be withdrawn earlier. The court considered whether it could grant such permission and noted that the withdrawal would not affect the trial's merits. The judge granted the request, allowing the bail application to be withdrawn. Consequently, the bail application was disposed of as withdrawn, and the trial court was directed to continue the trial independently of this withdrawal.

Issues considered

Whether the High Court can permit the withdrawal of a pending bail application.

Subjects

bail
withdrawal
criminal procedure
trial delay
custody

Judgment

                                                 16-BA-553-2025.DOC




Ajit Pathrikar



         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                 CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
                 BAIL APPLICATION NO. 553 OF 2025

Nabala Edith D/o Bate Lawrence                     ...Applicant
     Versus
Union Of India And Anr.                            ...Respondents

Ms. Zehra Charania h/f Ayaz Khan, for the Applicant.
Ms. Megha Bajoria, SPP for the Respondent No.1-UOI.
Mr. Mayur Sonavane, APP for the Respondent No.2-State.


                       CORAM           DR. NEELA GOKHALE, J.
                       DATED:          2nd FEBRUARY 2026
PC:-

1.        Ms. Zehra Charania, learned counsel for the Applicant,

submits that vide order dated 2nd December 2025, the Bail

Application of the co-accused in the same C.R. was permitted

to be withdrawn.


2.        Ms. Charania seeks liberty to withdraw the present Bail

Application. However, since the Applicant is in custody from

October 2023 and the charges were framed in January 2025,

the Trial Court is requested to expedite the trial and

preferably conclude the same within the next six months.


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                                                   16-BA-553-2025.DOC




3.   Permission to withdraw is granted.



4.   The Bail Application is accordingly disposed of as

withdrawn.



5.   Needless to state that the matter is not heard on merits

and the Trial Court to decide the case on its own merits,

uninfluenced   by   the   withdrawal          of   the   present   Bail

Application.



                                              (Dr. Neela Gokhale, J)




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