Vishal Hasmukh Gandhi v. State of Maharashtra and Anr.
Case brief
What is this about?
Anticipatory bail allowed in effect (interim relief made absolute) — Vishal Hasmukh Gandhi v. The State of Maharashtra & Anr., Anticipatory Bail Application No.148 of 2024, Bombay High Court, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction, R.N. Laddha, J., 9 June 2025. CR/FIR No.1615 of 2023, Malvani/Malwani Police Station; offences under Ss.376(2)(n), 420, 506, 323 IPC; alleged promise-of-marriage relationship August 2017–September 2023; ornaments worth Rs.17,50,000/-; defence plea of consensual relationship and transfer of around Rs.21 lakhs to informant and her children; no criminal antecedents pleaded. Grounds: unexplained delay of about three months in lodging FIR (deceit discovered September 2023, FIR December 2023); investigation complete; charge sheet filed 5 October 2024; nothing to recover or discover; interim protection since 18 January 2024 duly complied with. Conditions: no tampering with evidence, no influencing witnesses, cooperation with trial Court. Connected IA No.1397 of 2024 (XYZ, intervenor, legal aid) disposed of. Counsel: Vaibhav Bagade with Aman Kothari (applicant); Arfan Sait, APP (State); Keral Mehta (respondent No.2, legal aid).