Ajay Ravindra Chaudhry Vs the State of Maharashtra and Another — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Ajay Ravindra Chaudhry Vs the State of Maharashtra and Another — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail: in the event of arrest in connection with Crime No. 0082 of 2025 (Shahada Police Station, District Nandurbar), release on furnishing a personal bond (P.B.) of Rs. 30,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount; conditions - attend Shahada Police Station, District Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as and when called, and co-operate with the Investigating Agency.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicant, apprehending arrest in Crime No. 0082 of 2025 (Shahada Police Station, District Nandurbar) for offences under Sections 108 and 65(e) of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act and Section 123 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, is entitled to anticipatory bail (protection from arrest).

Court's answer

Co-accused Mahendra Chaudhari, to whom the seized bottles were to be supplied, has already been protected by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Shahada, in Criminal Bail Application No. 94 of 2025 vide order dated 10.04.2025.

Ratio / Principle

The Applicant had sold the Bolero Jeep (in which the liquor was found) to Krushna Chavan on 26.12.2024, i.e. prior to lodging of the FIR, as shown by the agreement at Exh. 'C'; delivery of the vehicle was handed over to the purchaser.

Key takeaways

In this view of the matter, a case for protection (anticipatory bail) of the Applicant is made out.ratio¶13

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail granted (Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench; Neeraj P. Dhote, J.; 03.10.2025) to Ajay Ravindra Chaudhry apprehending arrest in Crime No. 0082 of 2025, Shahada Police Station, District Nandurbar, under Sections 108 and 65(e) of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act and Section 123 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Forty-eight bottles of liquor worth Rs. 5,76,000/- were seized from Bolero Jeep MH-18/AC-0072 intercepted near Prakasha village in the night of 30.01.2025; the driver was arrested on 20.03.2025 and stated the bottles were carried at the Applicant's instance. The Court noted the agreement at Exh. 'C' showing the Applicant sold the Jeep to Krushna Chavan on 26.12.2024, prior to the FIR, with delivery handed over to the purchaser, and that co-accused Mahendra Chaudhari, the intended recipient of the liquor, was already protected by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Shahada, in Criminal Bail Application No. 94 of 2025 (order dated 10.04.2025); on parity and the pre-FIR sale, a case for protection was made out. Bail directed on personal bond of Rs. 30,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, subject to attending Shahada Police Station, District Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as and when called and co-operating with the Investigating Agency.

1 940ABA1109.2025.odt

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

940 ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1109 OF 2025

Ajay Ravindra Chaudhry VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra And Another

Mr. Sushil Pushpendra Pandit - Advocate for Applicant Mr. N. D. Batule - APP for State

CORAM : NEERAJ P. DHOTE, J. DATED : 03^RD OCTOBER, 2025

PER COURT : -

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

The Applicant is apprehending arrest in connection with Crime No. 0082 of 2025 registered with Shahada Police Station, District Nandurbar, for offences punishable under Sections 108 and 65(e) of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act and under Section 123 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The aforesaid Crime is registered on the report lodged by the Policeman. The Police received secret information that the illicit liquor was being transported in one Bolero Jeeep in the night of 30^th January, 2025. The trap was laid beside the road and the Bolero Jeep bearing No. MH-18/AC-0072, came to be intercepted near Prakasha

2 940ABA1109.2025.odt Village on Vaijali Road. Forty Eight (48) bottles of liquor worth Rs. 5,76,000/- were found in the said vehicle, which came to be seized. The driver of the vehicle was arrested on 20.03.2025.

The driver of the said Jeep stated to the Police that, the said bottles were transported at the instance of the Applicant to be delivered to another person. The vehicle was in the name of the Applicant. The copy of agreement at Exh. ‘C’, Page No. 28 of the Application, indicate that, the Applicant sold the said Bolero Jeep to one Krushna Chavan on 26.12.2024 i.e. prior to lodging of the FIR. The said document show that, the delivery of the vehicle was handed over to the purchaser. The vehicle and the said liquor bottles are in the custody of the Police. The co-acccused to whom the said bottles were to be supplied, by name, Mahendra Chaudhari, has been protected by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Shahada, in Criminal Bail Application No. 94 of 2025 vide order dated 10.04.2025. In this view of the matter, case for protection to the Applicant is made out. Hence, the following order : -

ORDER

[i] The Application is allowed.

[ii] In the event of arrest of the Applicant, Ajay Ravindra Chaudhry, in connection with Crime No. 0082 of 2025 registered with Shahada Police Station, District Nandurbar, for offences punishable under Sections 108 and 65(e) of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act and under Section 123 of the

3 940ABA1109.2025.odt

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 Shahada Police Station, District Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as and when called.

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

[v] 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 19:47:52