Disposed¶44

Maruti Laxman Tokare v. State of Maharashtra

Bombay HC14 Jan 2025ABA/2765/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Anticipatory bail; interim protection confirmed; FIR No.0178/2024 Neral Police Station Raigad; Sections 115(2), 118(2), 3(5), 351(2), 352 BNS 2023; PR Bond 50,000/-; Maruti Laxman Tokare v. State of Maharashtra; Rajesh S. Patil, J.; Bombay High Court; ABA 2765/2024; 27 February 2025.

What did the court decide?

Interim protection confirmed; upon arrest in connection with FIR No.0178 of 2024 (Neral Police Station, Raigad), release on furnishing PR Bond of 50,000/- and one or two sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions of appearing before the I.O. as and when called, refraining from any inducement, threat or promise and from tampering with evidence, and furnishing residential addresses, contact numbers and email addresses to the I.O. ¶44

Maruti Laxman Tokare vs State of Maharashtra — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the interim protection earlier granted to the applicant in Anticipatory Bail Application No. 2765/2024 should be confirmed. +1 more

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Court's answer

The Court is convinced that, the applicant having co-operated with the investigation as directed, the interim protection granted by this Court can be confirmed.

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Ratio / Principle

The interim protection granted by this Court is confirmed.

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Key takeaways

In the event of arrest in connection with FIR No.0178 of 2024 dated 22.08.2024 (Neral Police Station, District Raigad), the applicant is to be released on bail on furnishing a PR Bond of 50,000/- and one or two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court.ratio¶37
The applicant shall appear before the I.O. as and when called for.ratio¶38
The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing the facts to the Court or any police officer, and shall not tamper with evidence.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction), Rajesh S. Patil, J., 27-02-2025 - Anticipatory Bail Application No. 2765/2024, Maruti Laxman Tokare v. State of Maharashtra: Interim protection granted on 14/10/2024 by Manish Pitale, J. against apprehended arrest in connection with FIR No.0178 of 2024 (Neral Police Station, Raigad) for offences under Sections 115(2), 118(2), 3(5), 351(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Section 118(2) BNS being noted as the sole non-bailable offence - was confirmed after the applicant co-operated with the investigation, his statement was recorded, the weapons used in the alleged incident were recovered, and the charge-sheet was stated to be in the process of being filed. Operative terms: upon arrest, release on PR Bond of 50,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court; appearance before the I.O. as and when called; no inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts and no tampering with evidence; furnishing of residential addresses, contact numbers and email addresses to the I.O. Application disposed of accordingly.

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2025:BHC-AS:9581

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Diksha Rane 4 ABA 2765-2024.doc

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

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ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2765/2024

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MARUTI LAXMAN TOKARE ..APPLICANT

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STATE OF MAHARASHTRA ..RESPONDENT

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Ms. Shivani S. Kondekar for applicant.

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Mr. Avinash A. Naik, APP for State.

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HC/1192 Mahesh Madhukar Khandagale, Neral Police Station, Raigad.

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CORAM : RAJESH S. PATIL, J.

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DATE : FEBRUARY 27, 2025.

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P.C. :

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1. By an order dated 14/10/2024, the learned Single Judge of

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this Court (Coram : Manish Pitale, J.) has granted protection to the present applicant by way of an interim relief. For ease of reference, the said order reproduced herein below:-

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“. Heard learned counsel for the applicant and the learned APP for the respondent-State.

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The applicant is apprehending arrest in connection with FIR No.0178 of 2024 dated 22.08.2024, registered at Neral Police Station, District Raigad, for offences under Sections 115(2), 118(2), 3(5), 351(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).

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It is to be noted that only offence under Section 118(2) of the BNS is a non-bailable offence and it pertains to voluntarily causing hurt or

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Diksha Rane 4 ABA 2765-2024.doc

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grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means.

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Having heard the learned counsel for the applicant and the learned APP for the respondent-State and upon perusal of the statement of the informant leading to registration of FIR, this Court is inclined to keep the present application pending and to grant interim relief in favour of the applicant, subject to the applicant abiding by specific conditions. The reasons for granting interim relief are as follows:

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(a) Although the statement of the informant does indicate the presence of the applicant at the place and time of the incident, the allegation regarding use of wooden bamboos for assault, prima facie appears to be against the two unknown persons, who were called by the applicant to the place of the incident.

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(b) The specific allegation as regards the assault indicates that the assault was carried out by means of fists and kicks and also by wooden bamboos. Since the statement of the informant itself indicates that two unknown co-accused persons were armed with wooden bamboos, prima facie, it appears that they could be held responsible for the serious injury of fracture to the arm of the informant/victim.

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(c) Although the delay in registration of FIR prima facie appears to have been explained by the informant and the investigation papers presently indicate that he underwent treatment at different hospitals, even the statement recorded at the hospital on 20.08.2024 shows that the act of assault was attributed to "unknown persons".

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(d) The applicant has undertaken to co-operate with the investigation.

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In view of the above, there shall be interim order in following terms:

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(i) Till the next date, in the event the applicant is arrested in connection with FIR No.0178 of 2024 dated 22.08.2024, registered at Neral Police Station, District Raigad, he shall be released on bail on furnishing PR Bond of 50,000/- and one or two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court.

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(ii) The applicant shall appear before the investigating officer on 16.10.2024 and 17.10.2024 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon and thereafter as and when required by the investigating officer.

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(iii) The applicant shall not influence the informant, witness or any person concerned with the case and shall not tamper with the evidence. Не shall co-operate with the investigation.

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Needless to say, violation of any of the aforesaid conditions may result in this order being cancelled.

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List for further consideration on 19.11.2024 High on Board.”

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Diksha Rane 4 ABA 2765-2024.doc

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2. The learned APP submits that as per directions of this Court the applicant has co-operated with the I.O. and the statement of the present applicant is recorded. So also, the weapons used in alleged incident have been recovered. The learned APP further submits that the charge-sheet is in the process of being filed and will be filed soon. In such situation, I am convinced that the interim protection granted by this Court can be confirmed.

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3. The interim protection granted by this Court is confirmed.

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4. In the event, the applicant is arrested in connection with FIR No.0178 of 2024 dated 22.08.2024, registered at Neral Police Station, District Raigad, he shall be released on bail on furnishing PR Bond of 50,000/- and one or two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court.

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5. The applicant shall appear before the I.O. as and when called for.

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6. The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with facts of case so as to dissuade him from disclosing the facts to Court or any Police Officer and shall not tamper with evidence.

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7. The applicant shall furnish details of his residential addresses,

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Diksha Rane 4 ABA 2765-2024.doc

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contact numbers and email addresses to the Investigating Officer.

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8. The anticipatory bail application is disposed of accordingly .

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(RAJESH S. PATIL, J.)

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