Bombay High Court

VEDANT JAGANNATH KONDAMWARversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

Decided: 14 August 2026
Disposal: Disposed Off

Holding

Bail is granted to the accused subject to a cash bond and specified conditions.

Summary

The High Court considered the bail application of Vedant Jagannath Kondamwar, who was charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the POCSO Act and the IT Act for allegedly recording a video of a minor self‑assaulting during a Snapchat call and extorting money by threatening to publish the video. The trial court had denied bail. The applicant argued that his identity was uncertain, there was no chat evidence, and the delay in filing the report raised doubts, while the prosecution highlighted the seriousness of exploiting a minor and the extortion. The court noted a prima facie case but observed that the applicant had been in custody for a year, posed no flight risk, had no criminal record, and was unlikely to tamper with evidence. Consequently, the court granted bail with a cash bond and several conditions, emphasizing that the order does not constitute a judgment on guilt.

Issues considered

Whether bail should be granted to the accused despite the seriousness of the alleged offences under BNS, POCSO and the IT Act.
Whether the applicant poses a risk of absconding, tampering with evidence, or committing further similar offences.

Legislation cited

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — s. 308(3), 351(2), 77, 78
Information Technology Act, 2000 — s. 66(c), 66(e), 67, 67(a), 67(b)
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 — s. 12, 14

Subjects

bail
sexual offences
child protection
extortion
video recording
IT Act
POCSO
BNS
criminal procedure

Judgment

MANOJ 902-BA-760-2026.DOC

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.760 OF 2026
Vedant Jagannath Kondamwar …Applicant
V/s.
The State of Maharashtra & Anr. …Respondents

Mr. Veerdhawal Deshmukh, for the Applicant.
Ms. Veera Shinde, APP for the Respondent No.1-State.
Mr. Sandeep B. Satkar, for the Respondent N0.2.
PSI – Prataprao Kadam, Virar Police Station, present.

CORAM: SHYAM C. CHANDAK, J.
DATED : 14th AUGUST, 2026
P.C. :-

1. Heard learned Counsel for the parties. Perused the record.

2. Applicant seeks his release on bail in connection with an
FIR bearing CR No.404 of 2025 registered with Virar Police
Station, for the offence punishable under Sections 77, 78, 308(3),
351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (“BNS”), Sections 12
and 14 of the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act,
2012 (“POCSO Act”) and Sections 66(c), 66(e), 67, 67(a), and
67(b), for the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”), on the
report dated 26th June, 2025, filed by the father of the victim girl.

3. It is alleged that, in May 2025, the victim and the Applicant
came in contact through Snapchat App and thereafter, they used
to talk with each other on Snapchat calls, which led to establishing
love relationship between the two. Taking advantage of that
relationship, the Applicant obtained the Snapchat ID and
password of the victim. It is alleged that on 11th June, 2025, during
a video call on Snapchat, the Applicant appeared with masked face
and being threatened by him, the victim partly uncovered herself
and sexually assaulted to self on chest. It is alleged that said entire

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MANOJ 902-BA-760-2026.DOC

act was video graphed by the Applicant during the video call.
Further, the Applicant uploaded that video on the Snapchat ID of
the victim, as she did not fulfill his demand of extortion money.
The said video was seen by her relative. Therefore, aforesaid crime
came to be registered and the Applicant was arrested. On
completion of the investigation, police submitted the charge-sheet.
The trial Court declined to release the Applicant on bail.

4. Mr. Deshmukh, learned Counsel for the Applicant
submitted that the identity of the Applicant is questionable as the
victim herself mentioned in her statement that the face of the
Applicant was masked. No chat history is recovered from the
victim’s side to corroborate narration in the Report. This indicates
that the Applicant is innocent. There is considerable delay in
lodging of the Report which create doubt about the prosecution
case. The Applicant is in jail for about a year and his further
detention is not required. Therefore, he be released on bail.

5. Per contra, Ms. Shinde, learned APP submitted that taking
advantage of tender age of the victim, her feelings and threatening
her, the Applicant compelled her to sexually assault herself.
Additionally, the Applicant video graphed that act and also
demanded money from her by threatening to make that video
viral. Therefore, the offence is serious and bail be declined.

6. Considering the material on record and the rival
submissions, I am of the view that there is a prima facie case
against the Applicant of having committed the alleged offence.
However, it appears that due to the adolescent age, the victim and
the Applicant both indulged in the said act, which Applicant video
graphed and misused.

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MANOJ 902-BA-760-2026.DOC

7. Be that as it may. Now, the testimony of the victim is over.
The Applicant is in jail for last one year. He is also not likely to
tamper with the prosecution evidence to be recorded. He is not
likely to repeat the offence or abscond. The Applicant has no
criminal antecedent.

8. In the wake of above, I am inclined to allow the Application.
Hence, following Order:-

(i) Applicant – Vedant Jagannath Kondamwar shall be
released on bail in connection with aforesaid CR No.404 of
2025 registered with Virar Police Station, on his furnishing
P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/- with one or two
sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant shall mark his attendance at Virar
Police Station on the 1st day of each calendar month between
12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., till the conclusion of the trial. Said
attendance should start from 1st September, 2026.

(iii) The Applicant shall regularly attend the proceedings
before the jurisdictional Court unless exempted.

(iv) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution
evidence and shall not directly or indirectly influence upon
the prosecution witness to prevent them from deposing
against him.

(v) On being released from jail, the Applicant shall
furnish his contact number and residential address to the
Investigation Officer and shall keep him updated, in case
there is any change.

(vi) The Applicant shall not indulge in identical activities
for which he has been arraigned in this case.

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MANOJ 902-BA-760-2026.DOC

(vii) By way of abundant caution, it is clarified that the
observations made hereinabove are confined for the
purpose of determination to the entitlement for bail and
they may not be construed as an expression of opinion on
the guilt or otherwise of the Applicant and the trial Court
shall not be influenced by any of the observations made
hereinabove.

9. Application stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

(SHYAM C. CHANDAK, J.)
Digitally
signed by
PREETI
PREETI HEERO
HEERO JAYANI
JAYANI Date:
2026.08.17
18:28:01
+0530

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