Bombay High Court

AKHILESH HARSHAL PANDEYversusCENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION MUMBAI AND ANR

Decided: 25 June 2026
Disposal: Disposed Off
Bench: N JAMADAR

Holding

The Court suspended the substantive sentences of the appellants pending final disposal of the appeals and granted bail on a personal bond and surety.

Summary

The High Court admitted two criminal appeals filed by Akhilesh Harshal Pandey and Anoop Roy against the Central Bureau of Investigation. Both appellants sought relief similar to that granted to a co-accused, Satish Krishna Pujari, whose imprisonment sentence was suspended pending appeal. The Court considered the parity of circumstances and allowed the interim applications, suspending the substantive sentences imposed by the Special Judge in CBI Special Cases No.35 of 2011 and No.36 of 2012. The appellants were ordered to be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond and surety of Rs.25,000 each, subject to the satisfaction of the Special Judge. Additionally, the appellants were directed to report to the CBI office in Mumbai on specified dates until the appeals are finally disposed.

Issues considered

Whether the imprisonment sentences of the appellants should be suspended pending final disposal of their appeals
Whether bail should be granted to the appellants on condition of bond and surety

Subjects

criminal appeal
suspension of sentence
bail
interim application
parity of circumstances
CBI special case

Judgment

2026:BHC-AS:26244

                                                                          14 apeal 515 of 2026.doc

                         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                               CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
                                CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.515 OF 2026
                                             WITH
                              INTERIM APPLICATION NO.2000 OF 2026
                                             AND
                              INTERIM APPLICATION NO.2001 OF 2026

            Akhilesh Harshal Pandey                  ... Appellant/Applicant
                  versus
            Central Bureau of Investigation and Anr. …   Respondents
                                                WITH
                                CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.516 OF 2026
                                                WITH
                            INTERIM APPLICATION NO.2004 OF 2026
                                                AND
                            INTERIM APPLICATION NO.2003 OF 2026

            Anoop Roy                                   ...      Appellant/Applicant
                  versus
            Central Bureau of Investigation and Anr.    …        Respondents

            Mr. Priyatosh Tiwari with Mr. Ajay Pal, for Appellant/Applicant.
            Mr. Amit Munde, SPP, with Mr. Jai Vohra, for Respondent No.1.
            Mr. Dinesh J. Haldankar, APP for Respondent – State.

                                CORAM:      N.J.JAMADAR, J.

                                DATE :      25 JUNE 2026

            P.C.

            1.      Heard the learned Counsel for the parties.

            2.      Appeals are admitted.

            3.      Issue Notice to the Respondents for final disposal, returnable on 30

            July 2026. To be listed alongwith Criminal Appeal (st) No.10627 of 2026.

            4.      Learned Spl. P.P. waives service on behalf of Respondent No.1 and the


            SSP                                                    1/3
                                                              14 apeal 515 of 2026.doc

learned APP waives service of notice on behalf of Respondent No.2.

       Interim Applications :

5.    By an order dated 12 June 2026 in IA No.1722 of 20267 in Criminal

Appeal (ST) No.10627 of 2026, this Court has suspended the substantive

sentence of imprisonment imposed by the learned Special Jude in CBI

Special Case No.35 of 2011 along with 36 of 2012 in respect of the co-

accused Satish Krishna Pujari.

6.    The Applicants are similarly circumstanced. For parity of reasons, the

substantive sentence of the Applicants also deserves to be suspended, till the

final disposal of the Appeals.

7.    Hence, the following order :

                                       ORDER

      (i)     The Interim Applications stand allowed.

      (ii)    The substantive sentence of imprisonment imposed by the

learned Special Judge in CBI Special Case No.35 of 2011 alongwith 36 of

2012 arising out of CR No.RC03(E)/2010 registered with Central Bureau of

Investigation (through BS&FC), Mumbai) stands suspended till the final

disposal of the appeal.

      (iii)   The Applicants be enlarged on bail on furnishing a PR bond in the

sum of Rs.25,000/- and a surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the

learned Special Judge.


SSP                                                     2/3
                                                                                      14 apeal 515 of 2026.doc

                               (iii)   The Applicants shall mark their presence at Central Bureau of

                      Investigation, BS&FC, Mumbai, on the first Monday of July and January every

                      year, till the disposal of the Appeals.

                                       Interim Applications stand disposed.




                                                                              ( N.J.JAMADAR, J. )




                      SSP                                                       3/3



Signed by: S.S.Phadke
Designation: PS To Honourable Judge
Date: 29/06/2026 11:09:43

Continue reading with your account

Checking your session…