Ratnakar Sudhakar Joshi Vs the State of Maharashtra — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2025)

Ratnakar Sudhakar Joshi Vs the State of Maharashtra — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: on arrest, the Applicant to be released on a personal bond of Rs. 30,000 with one or two sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions of attending Shrigonda Police Station, District Ahilyanagar, as and when called, co-operating with the Investigating Agency, not changing residence without intimating the concerned Police Station, and not leaving India without permission of the concerned Sessions Court.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicant, who apprehends arrest in Crime No. 0281 of 2025 (CIDCO Police Station, District Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) arising from the alleged government-job fraud involving the joint Fixed Deposit, is entitled to anticipatory bail.

Court's answer

Considering the role attributed to the Applicant and the fact that he had provided the required information pursuant to the police notice dated 11.09.2024, with the necessary documents already in the custody of the Investigating Officer, the Applicant has made out a case for protection (anticipatory bail).

Ratio / Principle

Operative direction: in the event of arrest in Crime No. 0281 of 2025, the Applicant is to be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 30,000 with one or two sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions - attending Shrigonda Police Station, District Ahilyanagar, when called; co-operating with the Investigating Agency; not changing residence without intimating the concerned Police Station; and not leaving India without permission of the concerned Sessions Court.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory Bail - Applicant, stated to be Chairman of Mangalmurti Cooperative Credit Society, sought pre-arrest protection in Crime No. 0281 of 2025 of CIDCO Police Station, District Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, for offences under Sections 3(5), 316(2), 316(5), 318(4), 336(3), 338 and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, after rejection by the learned Sessions Court. FIR by Shankar Pandit Dusane alleged that, on promise of government (Talathi) jobs for his two sons, he deposited Rs. 50 lakh in a joint Fixed Deposit with the society and later found Rs. 40 lakh withdrawn. Noting the joint F.D.s were with the society of which the Applicant was Chairman, that police had issued notice dated 11.09.2024 (pre-FIR) seeking information which the Applicant furnished, and that the necessary documents were with the Investigating Officer, the Court held the Applicant had made out a case for protection. Anticipatory bail allowed with P.B. of Rs. 30,000 and sureties, subject to attendance, co-operation, residence-intimation and no-departure-from-India conditions.

1 939ABA1016.2025.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD.

939 ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1016 OF 2025

Ratnakar Sudhakar Joshi VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra

Dr. Anagha N. Pedgaonkar - Advocate for Applicant Mr. C. V. Bhadane - APP for State

CORAM : NEERAJ P. DHOTE, J.

DATED : 03^RD OCTOBER, 2025

PER COURT : -

Heard the learned Advocate for the Applicant and the learned APP for the State. Perused the papers on record.

Since the Applicant is apprehending arrest in connection with Crime No. 0281 of 2025 registered with CIDCO Police Station, District Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, for offences punishable under Sections 3(5), 316(2), 316(5), 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, he has filed the present Application for Anticipatory Bail after his Application was rejected by the learned Sessions Court.

The aforesaid Crime is registered on the report lodged by one Shankar Pandit Dusane. The Informant’s son-in-law told the Informant that, one of his known person, by name, Vishal Ramsing Pardeshi, the Accused No. 1, can manage to provide the Government

2 939ABA1016.2025.odt Job. The Informant has two sons. The Informant’s brother-in-law arranged for the meeting with Accused No. 1. The Informant was told that, Accused No. 1 – Vishal and the Applicant were having good contacts with the Government Offices and the recruitment for the post of Talathi was going on and they can manage the job for two sons of the Informant. Accused No. 1 – Vishal told the Informant to deposit Rs. 50.00 lakh in the joint name of the Informant and the Accused No. 1 – Vishal in Fixed Deposit (F.D.). Accordingly, Informant deposited the said amount in the joint F.D. with Mangalmurti Cooperative Credit Society of which the Applicant was the Chairman. However, subsequently, the Informant’s two sons did not get any Government Job and he came to know that Rs. 40.00 lakh from the said joint F.D. was withdrawn. He contacted the Accused No. 1 and the present Applicant but they gave evasive replies and, therefore, he has approached the Police and lodged the report.

Perusal of the FIR shows that, the joint F.D. was in the nakme of Applicant and Accused No. 1 – Vishal. The said FDs were with the said Cooperative Credit Society of which the Applicant, was the Chairman. The copy of notice dated 11.09.2024 i.e. prior to FIR, show that, the Police issued the notice to the Applicant on the Application made by the Informant in respect of the said joint F.D. and asking the Applicant to furnish certain information and documents. The Applicant accordingly gave the required information. The papers show that the

3 939ABA1016.2025.odt necessary documents are in the custody of the Investigaitng Officer. Considering the role attributed to the Applicant and that he had provided the required information, in my view, the Applicant has made out the case for protection. Hence, the following order : -

ORDER

[i] The Application is allowed.

[ii] In the event of arrest of the Applicant, Ratnakar Sudhakar Joshi, in connection with Crime No. 0281 of 2025 registered with CIDCO Police Station, District Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, for offences punishable under Sections 3(5), 316(2), 316(5), 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, he be released on bail on his furnishing P.B. of Rs. 30,000/- [Rupees Thirty Thousand], with one or two sureties in the like amount.

[iii] The Applicant shall attend Shrigonda Police Station, District Ahilyanagar, as and when called.

[iv] The Applicant shall co-operate with the Investigating Agency.

[v] The Applicant shall not change the place of his residence without intimating the concerned Police Station.

[vi] The Applicant shall not leave India without the permission of the concerend Sessions Court.

[vii] The Application stands disposed off.

[NEERAJ P. DHOTE] JUDGE

SG Punde

Signed by: Sandeep Gulabrao Punde Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 03/10/2025 19:39:10