Jitendrakumar Natwarlal Patel vs State of Maharashtra — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Jitendrakumar Natwarlal Patel vs State of Maharashtra — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Release on bail in Crime No. 302 of 2021 (Nigadi Police Station, Dist-Pune) on furnishing a P.R. bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, subject to attendance at the concerned police station once a month on the first Saturday between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm till conclusion of the trial.

Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant, arrested for printing and circulating counterfeit currency notes (Ss. 489(A)-489(D) r/w 34 IPC) and incarcerated for over three and a half years as an under-trial prisoner with the trial not commenced and no other criminal antecedents, ought to be released on regular bail.

Court's answer

Though the allegations are of printing counterfeit currency notes, there is no recovery of any incriminating material at the instance of the applicant; he has been in jail for three and a half years with the trial not commenced, and has no other criminal antecedents.

Ratio / Principle

On these facts and circumstances the court was inclined to release the applicant on bail.

Key takeaways

Application allowed: applicant to be released on bail in Crime No. 302 of 2021 on furnishing a P.R. bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, and to attend the concerned police station once a month on the first Saturday between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm till conclusion of the trial.ratio¶29

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction — Criminal Bail Application No. 4864 of 2024 (file 906-ba-4864-2024.doc), decided 19.03.2025 by N. R. Borkar, J. Regular bail granted to applicant Jitendrakumar Natwarlal Patel, arrested in Crime No. 302 of 2021, Nigadi Police Station, Dist-Pune, for offences under Sections 489(A), 489(B), 489(C) & 489(D) r/w 34 IPC (allegations of printing and circulating counterfeit currency notes). Grounds found sufficient: incarceration of three and a half years as under-trial prisoner with the trial not commenced; no recovery of any incriminating material at the applicant's instance; no other criminal antecedents. Bail on P.R. bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount; condition to report at the concerned police station once a month on the first Saturday between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm till conclusion of trial. Application disposed of accordingly.

906-ba-4864-2024.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 4864 OF 2024

Jitendrakumar Natwarlal Patel

...Applicant

VERSUS

The State of Maharashtra ...Respondent

Ms. Swarali Joglekar, Advocate for the Applicant. Mr. T. G. Khan, A.P.P. for the Respondent – State.

CORAM : N. R. BORKAR, J. DATE : 19.03.2025.

P.C.:

This is an application for regular bail.

The applicant came to be arrested in Crime No. 302 of 2021 registered at Nigadi Police Station, Dist- Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 489(A), 489(B), 489(C) & 489(D) r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The allegations against the applicant and other co-

accused are of printing and circulating the counterfeit currency notes.

I have heard the learned counsel for the applicant

1 of 3

Pramod S.Lakare

906-ba-4864-2024.doc

and the learned APP for the respondent/State.

The bail is sought on the ground of long incarceration as under-trial prisoner. The learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is in jail for more than three and half years and the trial has not commenced. It is submitted that there are no other criminal antecedents.

On the other hand, the learned APP for the respondent/State submits that the applicant is the main accused. It is submitted that considering the nature of crime the applicant may not be released on bail.

Though the allegations against the applicant are of printing the counterfeit currency notes, however, there is no recovery of any incriminating material at the instance of the applicant. The applicant is in jail for three and half years and the trial has not commenced. There are no other criminal antecedents against the applicant.

Considering the above facts and circumstances, I am inclined to release the applicant on bail. In the result, the following order is passed:

2 of 3

Pramod S.Lakare

906-ba-4864-2024.doc

O R D E R

A] The Application is allowed.

B] The applicant be released on bail in Crime No. 302 of 2021 registered at Nigadi Police Station, Dist- Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 489(A), 489(B), 489(C) & 489(D) r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, on furnishing P.R Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand) with one or two sureties in the like amount.

C] The applicant shall attend the concerned police station once in a month, i.e., on first Saturday between 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, till conclusion of the trial.

9. Application stands disposed of accordingly.

(N. R. BORKAR, J.)

3 of 3

Pramod S.Lakare