Robert Vasantrao Gaikwad vs the State of Maharashtra and… — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2025)

Robert Vasantrao Gaikwad vs the State of Maharashtra and… — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Interim anticipatory bail protection granted (application not finally decided; notice returnable 13.1.2026 and matter stood over to 13th January, 2026): in the event of arrest in Crime No.0035 of 2025 (Shrigonda Police Station, District Ahilyanagar), the applicant to be released on PR Bond of Rs. 50,000/- with one or more sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions — weekly reporting at Shrigonda police station to the Investigating Officer every Saturday between 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. with cooperation in investigation; no tampering with prosecution evidence; submission of Aadhar and Pan card and mobile numbers/addresses of two near relatives to the Investigating Officer; Investigating Officer to make investigation papers available on the next date of hearing.

¶operative [I]

Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant should be protected from arrest in connection with Crime No.0035 of 2025 (Shrigonda Police Station, District Ahilyanagar; offences under Sections 406, 417, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 423, 120-B IPC) pending consideration of his anticipatory bail application and perusal of the investigation papers.

Court's answer

The court was inclined to protect the applicant till the investigation papers are seen, i.e., interim protection from arrest pending perusal of the investigation papers.

Ratio / Principle

In the event of arrest of the applicant in connection with Crime No.0035 of 2025, the applicant Robert Vasantrao Gaikwad was to be released on bail on furnishing a PR Bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- with one or more sureties in the like amount.

¶operative [I]

Key takeaways

Condition of interim protection: the applicant shall attend the Shrigonda police station and report to the Investigating Officer every Saturday between 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. and shall cooperate with the investigation.ratio¶operative [i]

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench (Mehroz K. Pathan, J.; 16th December, 2025) — Anticipatory Bail Application No. 2230 of 2025, Robert Vasantrao Gaikwad v. The State of Maharashtra and Another: Interim protection from arrest granted to the applicant, Secretary of the Trust 'Conferences of Churches of Christ in Western India', in connection with Crime No.0035 of 2025 of Shrigonda Police Station, District Ahilyanagar, for offences under Sections 406, 417, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 423 and 120-B IPC. The court recorded that the Indian Canadian Mission Society, through its Secretary Shri Deepak Gaikwad, had fraudulently sold properties belonging to the Trust, and that the applicant had appealed to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Shrigonda Division, Parner, against mutation of the properties in the Mission Society's name. The Sessions Court had granted interim protection (order dated 3.12.2025), rejected the anticipatory bail application (order dated 11.12.2025) and extended the protection up to 17.12.2025. The High Court protected the applicant till the investigation papers were seen: upon arrest, release on PR Bond of Rs. 50,000/- with one or more sureties in the like amount, conditioned on reporting at Shrigonda police station every Saturday between 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., non-tampering with prosecution evidence, and furnishing Aadhar/Pan card and contact details of two near relatives to the Investigating Officer; investigation papers to be produced on the next date. Notice returnable 13.1.2026; matter stood over to 13th January, 2026.

{1}

ABA 2230.25.odt

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD

ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2230 OF 2025

ROBERT VASANTRAO GAIKWAD

VERSUS

THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANOTHER.

… Mr. A.B. Gatne, Advocate for the applicant. Mr.S.P. Joshi, APP for respondent.

CORAM : MEHROZ K. PATHAN, J.

DATE : 16TH DECEMBER, 2025.

P.C. :-

Not on board. Taken on board, as the matter though circulated for today was not listed on board.

Notice returnable on 13.1.2026.

APP Mr. Joshi waives notice for the State.

Taking into consideration the fact that the applicant being a Secretary of the Trust namely, the Conferences of Churches of Christ in Western India, has taken several steps for retaining back the properties in the name of the Trust, as the Indian Canadian Mission Society through its Secretary Shri Deepak Gaikwad has fraudulently sold the properties belonging to the Trust.

It is submitted by Shri Gatne, learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant had also filed an appeal before the SubDivisional Officer, Shrigonda Division, Parner, Dist. Ahilyanagar challenging the mutation in the name of the Indian Canadian Mission

{2}

ABA 2230.25.odt

Society, of the properties which were earlier belonging to the Trust – Conferences of Churches of Christ of which the applicant is the Secretary.

It is further submitted by Shri Gatne, that the learned Sessions Court has granted interim order protecting the applicant during the pendency of the Anticipatory Bail Application vide order dated 3.12.2025. Even though the anticipatory bail application of the applicant was rejected vide order dated 11.12.2025, the learned Sessions Judge has extended the interim protection granted by the Sessions Court vide order dated 3.12.2025 for a further period of six days which will expire on 17.12.2025. The interim order and the order of extension are annexed to the application.

Thus, taking into consideration the above submission, I am inclined to protect the applicant till the investigation papers are seen. Hence, the following order :-

[I] In the event of arrest of the applicant, in connection with Crime No.0035 of 2025, registered with Shrigonda Police Station, District Ahilyanagar for the offences under Sections 406, 417, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 423, 120-B of the IPC the applicant Robert Vasantrao Gaikwad be released on bail on furnishing PR Bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- , with one or more sureties in the like amount, on the following conditions :

[i] The applicant shall attend the Shrigonda police station and report to the Investigating Officer every Saturday between 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. and shall cooperate with the investigation.

[ii] The applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence.

[iii] The Investigating Officer shall make investigation

{3}

ABA 2230.25.odt

papers available on next date of hearing.

[iv] The applicant shall submit his Aadhar and Pan card to the Investigating officer. He shall also submit the mobile numbers and addresses of two of his near relatives to the Investigating Officer.

[iv] Stand over to 13^th January, 2026.

[v] Parties to act upon the authenticated copy of this

order.

[MEHROZ K. PATHAN] JUDGE.

grt/-