Shreya D/O Satyavijay Goswami vs the State of Maharashtra, Thr. Pso, Ps, Ranapratap Nagar, Tah. and Dist. Nagpur — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Shreya D/O Satyavijay Goswami vs the State of Maharashtra, Thr. Pso, Ps, Ranapratap Nagar, Tah. and Dist. Nagpur — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Ad-interim anticipatory bail granted: in the event of arrest in connection with Crime No.335/2025 (Police Station Ranapratap Nagar, District Nagpur), the applicant to be released on PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount; conditions imposed — weekly attendance at the concerned Police Station on Sundays between 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. with cooperation in the investigation, and no inducement, threat or promise to witnesses; matter stood over after two weeks (interim order; final decision awaited).

Issue for consideration

Whether ad-interim pre-arrest (anticipatory) bail protection should be granted to the applicant who apprehends arrest at the hands of police in connection with Crime No.335/2025 registered with Police Station Ranapratap Nagar, District Nagpur. +1 more

Court's answer

Having heard both sides and perused the recitals of the FIR and investigation papers, the Court held that although investigation into the alleged Instagram-related sharing (receipt of obscene messages and sharing of obscene video) remained required to that extent, at this stage the applicant could be protected by granting ad-interim protection, subject to attending the concerned Police Station and cooperating with the investigating agency.

Ratio / Principle

In the event of arrest in connection with Crime No.335/2025 registered with Police Station Ranapratap Nagar, District Nagpur, the applicant Shreya d/o Satyavijay Goswami shall be released on ad-interim anticipatory bail on executing a PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount.

Key takeaways

Condition of the ad-interim protection: the applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station once in a week on Sunday between 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and shall cooperate with the investigating agency.ratio¶21
Condition of the ad-interim protection: the applicant shall not induce, threat or promise any witnesses who are acquainted with the facts of the case.ratio¶22

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench (Urmila Joshi-Phalke, J.), 19/06/2025 — CRIMINAL APPLICATION (ABA) NO.413 OF 2025: Ad-interim anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail granted. The applicant, apprehending arrest in Crime No.335/2025 registered at Police Station Ranapratap Nagar, Nagpur, sought pre-arrest bail. The FIR, lodged by a 23-year-old victim formerly acquainted with the applicant in a hostel, alleged that after a dispute and hot exchange of words the applicant opened a fake Instagram account in the victim's name, shared her mobile number thereon without permission, sent obscene messages and shared obscene videos, whereby the victim was scared and her modesty outraged. The learned APP opposed, submitting that the applicant did not turn up on notice nor cooperate with the investigating agency, and that the Cyber Police Station Officer's investigation revealed the applicant's involvement. On perusal of the recitals of the FIR and investigation papers, the Court found the allegation to be that the applicant opened the Instagram account in the victim's name and shared her number, and that investigation to that extent (receipt of obscene messages, sharing of obscene video) was required; nevertheless, at this stage the applicant could be protected by ad-interim protection. ORDER: release in the event of arrest on PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount; attendance at the concerned Police Station once a week on Sundays between 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. with cooperation in the investigation; no inducing, threatening or promising of witnesses. Stand over after two weeks.

(1) 918.aba.413.2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR

CRIMINAL APPLICATION (ABA) NO.413 OF 2025

Shreya d/o Satyavijay Goswami

Vs.

State of Maharashtra, through Police Station Officer, Police Station Ranapratap Nagar, District Nagpur

Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders

Mr. Anand Thotange, Counsel for the applicant. Mr. N. R. Rode, APP for non-applicant/State.

CORAM : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J. DATED : 19/06/2025

Apprehending the arrest at the hands of police in connection with Crime No.335/2025 registered with Police Station Ranapratap Nagar District Nagpur, the applicant approached to this Court for grant of pre-arrest bail.

Heard learned Counsel for the applicant, who submitted that the crime is registered on the basis of report lodged by the victim aged about 23 years on an allegation that she got acquaintance with the applicant when they were staying in the hostel. As per the allegation, there was a dispute between the present applicant and the victim and on that count, there was hot exchange of words. Thereafter the applicant has opened her fake instagram account and send her obscene message as well as shared

(2) 918.aba.413.2025

obscene videos. Her mobile number is also shared without her permission and thereby she was scared as well as modesty was outraged. On the basis of the said report, police have registered the crime against the present applicant.

Heard learned Counsel for the applicant, who submitted that no such obscene video is shared and it is not the present applicant who has opened the said instaram account. Merely because there is some dispute between them, she is falsely implicated. As far as the custodial interrogation is concerned, which is not required. In view of that, she be protected by granting anticipatory bail.

Learned APP strongly opposed the said application and submitted that even on the receipt of the notice, the applicant has not turned up and not cooperated with the investigating agency. The Cyber Police Station Officer has carried out the investigation for which the involvement of the present applicant reveals and, therefore, the prayer for grant of ad-interim protection deserves to be rejected.

On hearing both the sides and on perusal of the recitals of the FIR and the investigation papers, it reveals that the allegation against the present applicant is that she has opened the instagram account in the name of the victim and also shared her number on the said instagram account.

(3) 918.aba.413.2025

She has received some obscene messages, her obscene video is also shared and, therefore, the investigation to that extent is required. Considering the same, at this stage, the applicant can be protected by granting ad-interim protection. She shall attend the concerned, Police Station and cooperate with the investigating agency. In view of that I proceed to pass following order:

ORDER

(i) In the event of arrest, in connection with Crime No.335/2025 registered with Police Station Ranapratap Nagar, District Nagpur, the applicant Shreya d/o Satyavijay Goswami shall be released on ad-interim anticipatory bail on executing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount.

(ii) The applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station once in a week on Sunday between 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and shall cooperate with the investigating agency.

(iii) The applicant shall not induce, threat or promise any witnesses who are acquainted with the facts of the case.

Stand over after two weeks.

(URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.)

Sarkate

Signed by: Mr. A.R. Sarkate Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 23/06/2025 19:29:15