Bombay High Court

NIKHIL MADHUKAR PADTEversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR.

Decided: 10 April 2026
Disposal: Disposed Off
Bench: ASHWIN D BHOBE

Holding

The court granted leave to withdraw all the listed writ petitions and disposed of them as withdrawn.

Summary

Multiple writ petitions were filed in the Bombay High Court by various petitioners, including Zeco Aircon Limited and individuals such as Nikhil Padte, Sujata Wathoo and Manish Gupta, against the State of Maharashtra. The complainant, Respondent No.2, informed the court that it no longer wished to pursue the criminal complaints pending before the Judicial Magistrate First Class and would withdraw them. The petitioners, through their counsel, sought leave to withdraw all the writ petitions in light of the complainant’s decision. The Assistant Public Prosecutor for the State did not object to the withdrawal. The Court, after recording the statements of counsel, granted leave to withdraw the petitions and disposed of all the listed writ petitions as withdrawn.

Issues considered

Can multiple writ petitions be withdrawn by joint application of parties and disposed of by a common order?
Is the court empowered to entertain a withdrawal of criminal writ petitions when the complainant consents?

Subjects

withdrawal of writ petition
criminal appellate jurisdiction
consent of parties
disposal of petitions
procedural law

Judgment

902-WP-4081-2024.DOCX

(This Order is corrected vide speaking to the Minutes of Order dated 31 st July 2026.)
Sharada

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

WRIT PETITION NO.4081 OF 2024

Nikhil Madhukar Padte : Petitioner
Versus
Digitally
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents
signed by
SHARADA
SHARADA RANGNATH
RANGNATH WAHULE
WAHULE Date:
2026.08.04
10:42:43
+0530
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.6128 OF 2024

Zeco Aircon Limited Through
Nikhil Padte Director : Petitioner
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.6124 OF 2024

Zeco Aircon Limited Through
Nikhil Padte Director : Petitioner
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.6135 OF 2024

Nikhil Madhukar Padte : Petitioner
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

1
902-WP-4081-2024.DOCX

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.6126 OF 2024

Manish Kumar Gupta : Petitioner
Versus
State Of Maharashtra An Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.6132 OF 2024

Zeco Aircon Limited Through
Nikhil Padte Director : Petitioner
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.6134 OF 2024

Manish Kumar Gupta : Petitioner
Versus
State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.6130 OF 2024

Sujata Wuthoo : Petitioner
Versus
State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.6133 OF 2024

Manish Kumar Gupta : Petitioner
Versus
State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

2
902-WP-4081-2024.DOCX

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.6136 OF 2024

Sujata Wuthoo : Petitioner
Versus
State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.4101 OF 2024

M/S Zico Environmental
Solutions Pvt Ltd And Ors : Petitioners
Versus
State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.4075 OF 2024

M/S Zico Environmental
Solutions Pvt Ltd And Ors : Petitioners
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.4076 OF 2024

M/S Zico Environmental
Solutions Pvt Ltd And Ors : Petitioners
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.4109 OF 2024

Ravinder Singhal s/o Jagdish
Chand Singhal and Ors. : Petitioners
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

3
902-WP-4081-2024.DOCX

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.4104 OF 2024

Ravinder Singhal s/o Jagdish
Chand Singhal and Ors. : Petitioners
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.4077 OF 2024

Ravinder Singhal s/o Jagdish
Chand Singhal and Ors. : Petitioners
Versus
The State Of Maharashtra and Anr. : Respondents

---

Mr. Abhinav Chandrachud, a/w Ms. Gayatri Nayak, Mr. Raj
Gupte, Adv. Lubdha Bhoir, Ms. Gargi Gupta i/b Mr. Rajesh P.
Khobragade, Advocates for the Petitioner in WP/4104 and
WP/4101.

Mr. Siddhesh Bhole a/w Mr. Yakshay Chheda and Mr.Ashwin
Pimpale, i/by SSB Leagl & Advisory Advocate for the
Petitioners in WP/6132/2024, WP/6124/2024,
WP/6128/2024, WP/4081/2024, WP/6130/2024,
WP/6136/2024, WP/6126/2024, WP/6133/2024 and
WP/6134/2024.

Mr. Suhail Shariff a/w Ms. Sheri Baby, Mr. Samar Pal i/b.
Falcon Legal Advocate for Respondent No.2 in
WP/4081/2024,WP/6128/2024,WP/6124/2024,WP/6135/20
24,WP/6126/2024,WP/6132/2024,WP/6130/2024,WP/
6133/2024,WP/4101/2024,WP/4076/2024,WP/4109/2024,
WP/4104/2024, WP/4077/2024.

Mr. Tanveer Khan, APP for the State.
-------

4
902-WP-4081-2024.DOCX

CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.

DATED : 10th APRIL 2026
PC:-

1. Writ Petition No.4101 of 2024, Writ Petition No.4109 of
2024, Writ Petition No.4076 of 2024, Writ Petition No.4075 of
2024, Writ Petition No.4104 of 2024 and Writ Petition
No.4077 of 2024 are de- tagged from the group of these
petitions.

2. Heard, Mr. Siddhesh Bhole, learned Advocate for the
Petitioner in Criminal Writ Petition Nos. WP/6132/2024,
WP/6124/2024, WP/6128/2024, WP/4081/2024,
WP/6130/2024, WP/6136/2024, WP/6126/2024,
WP/6133/2024 and WP/6134/2024, Ms. Sherin Baby,
Advocate for the Respondent No.2 in Criminal Writ Petition
Nos. WP/4081/2024, WP/6128/2024, WP/6124/2024,
WP/6135/2024, WP/6126/2024, WP/4101/2024,
WP/4076/2024, WP/4109/2024, WP/4104/2024 and
WP/4077/2024 and Mr. Tanveer Khan, learned APP for
Respondent- State.

3. Mr. Siddhesh Bhole, learned Advocate for the
Petitioners, has tendered a chart under the signature of the
Advocate on record, giving details of the writ petitions, which

5
902-WP-4081-2024.DOCX

chart is taken on record and marked with “X” for
identification. Said chart is copied below:-

CHART

PETITIONER Accused CC NO. COMPLAINANT WP (ST) NO. CRI. WP
Number NO.
Zeco Aircon 5 CC No.196/SS/2023 ION Exchange 17054/2024 6132/2024
Limited India Limited
5 CC No.189/SS/2023 Ultrapure Envirocare 17051/2024 6124/2024
Pvt. Ltd.
5 CC No.112/SS/2023 Ultrafresh Modular 17049/2024 6128/2024
Solutions Limited
Nikhil 13 CC No.196/SS/2023 ION Exchange India 17057/2024 4081/2024
Madhukar Limited
Padte 13 CC No.189/SS/2023 Ultrapure Envirocare 17052/2024 6135/2024
Pvt.Ltd.
Sujata Wathoo 11 CC No.196/SS/2023 ION Exchange 17056/2024 6130/2024
India Limited
11 CC No.189/SS/2023 Ultrapure Envirocare 17059/2024 6136/2024
Pvt. Ltd.
Manish Kumar 14 CC No.196/SS/2023 ION Exchange 17053/2024 6126/2024
Gupta India Limited
14 CC No.189/SS/2023 Ultrapure Envirocare 17058/2024 6133/2024
Pvt. Ltd.
11 CC No.112/SS/2023 Ultrafresh Modular 17055/2024 6134/2024
Solutions Limited

4. Mr. Siddhesh Bhole, learned Advocate for the Petitioner,
and Ms. Sherin Baby, learned Advocate for Respondent No. 2,
jointly state that the petitions mentioned in the chart “X” be
disposed of by a common order. At their request, the petitions
referred to in the chart “X” are taken up for disposal with the
consent of the parties.

6
902-WP-4081-2024.DOCX

5. Petitions (10 nos.) referred to in the chart “X” are listed
today in view of the order dated 7th April 2026, which reads as
follows:

“1. In all these Petitions circulation was granted, in
view of the praecipe dated 27th March, 2026. Today
these Petitions are listed on board.

2. Mr. Ashwin Pimpale, learned Advocate for the
Petitioners and Ms. Sherin Baby, learned Advocate for
the Respondent No.2, jointly request for time till 10 th
April 2026. At their request, list these matters on 10 th
April 2026.

3. Interim order, if any, to continue till the next
date”.

6. Ms. Sherin Baby, Advocate for Respondent No. 2
(Complainant), in respect of the matters referred to in the
chart marked “X” in these Petitions, on instructions from
Respondent No. 2, states that Respondent No. 2 is not
interested in pursuing the complaints pending before the
Court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, filed by
Respondent No. 2 against the Petitioners (referred to in the
chart “X”). On specific instructions from Respondent No. 2,
she further states that Respondent No. 2 shall withdraw the
said complaints against the Petitioners (referred to in the
chart “X”).

7. Mr. Siddhesh Bhole, learned Advocate for the Petitioner,
requests that the statement made by Ms. Sherin Baby, learned
Advocate for Respondent No. 2, be taken on record. Ms.
Sherin Baby states that the statements are made on the

7
902-WP-4081-2024.DOCX

instructions of Respondent No. 2 (Complainant) and should
be taken on record. The statements referred to above made by
Ms. Sherin Baby, learned Advocate for Respondent No. 2, are
taken on record.

8. In view of the statement made by Ms. Sherin Baby,
learned Advocate for Respondent No. 2 (Complainant), Mr.
Siddhesh Bhole, learned Advocate for the Petitioner, on
instructions from the Petitioner, seeks leave to withdraw all
these Petitions (referred to in the chart “X”).

9. Mr. Khan, learned APP for the State, does not object to
the request for withdrawal made by Mr. Siddhesh Bhole,
learned Advocate for the Petitioner.

10. In view of the statement made by Mr. Siddhesh Bhole,
learned Advocate for the Petitioner, leave granted to withdraw
all these Petitions (referred to in the chart “X”).

11. Petitions referred to in the chart “X” are disposed of.

12. These Writ Petition Nos. 4081 of 2024, Writ Petition
No.6128 of 2026, Writ Petition No.6124 of 2024, Writ Petition
No.6135 of 2024, Writ Petition No.6126 of 2024, Writ Petition
No.6132 of 2024, Writ Petition No.6134 of 2024, Writ Petition
No.6130 of 2024, Writ Petition No.6133 of 2024 and Writ
Petition No.6136 of 2024, are disposed as withdrawn.

(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)

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