Balwant Rangnath Sonawane vs State of Maharashtra and Anr. — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Balwant Rangnath Sonawane vs State of Maharashtra and Anr. — Bombay HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Procedural directions only: Mr. Mainak Adhikary appointed (through the Legal-aid Panel) as Advocate for Respondent No. 2; A.P.P. to communicate the appointment and Maharashtra Legal-aid Committee to note it under the Legal-aid Scheme; Applicant's counsel to furnish the paper-book within two days; matter listed on 1st August 2025 by consent. The Bail Application itself was not decided on merits.

Issue for consideration

Whether Respondent No. 2 (the Complainant), who made a written request for legal assistance, is to be represented through the Court's Legal-aid Panel in the present Bail Application.

Court's answer

In view of Respondent No. 2's request for legal assistance, Mr. Mainak Adhikary, learned Advocate on the Legal-aid Panel of the Court, is requested to represent Respondent No. 2 in the Bail Application.

Ratio / Principle

The A.P.P. is requested to communicate the appointment to Respondent No. 2, and the Maharashtra Legal-aid Committee is to take note of the appointment of Mr. Mainak Adhikary under the Legal-aid Scheme to represent Respondent No. 2.

Key takeaways

Mr. Nikhil Adkine, learned Advocate for the Applicant, assured the Court to furnish the entire paper-book of the Bail Application to the appointed Advocate, Mr. Mainak Adhikary, within two days.ratio¶24
At the joint request and by consent of the parties, the matter is listed on 1st August 2025.ratio¶25

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Bail Application No. 696 of 2025 (High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Ashwin D. Bhobe, J., 10 July 2025) - procedural order: on a written request dated 20th April 2025 from Respondent No. 2 (the Complainant) seeking legal assistance, the Court requested Mr. Mainak Adhikary, learned Advocate on the Court's Legal-aid Panel, to represent her; directed the learned A.P.P. to communicate the appointment to Respondent No. 2 and the Maharashtra Legal-aid Committee to take note of the appointment under the Legal-aid Scheme; the Applicant's counsel undertook to furnish the entire paper-book to the appointed Advocate within two days; at the joint request and by consent of parties the matter was listed on 1st August 2025. No substantive adjudication on bail; no statute or precedent cited.

15-BA-696-2025.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 696 OF 2025

Balwant Rangnath Sonawane

...Applicant

Versus

The State of Maharashtra and Anr.

...Respondents

Mr. Nikhil Vijay Adkine a/w Mr. Somanath Kale, learned Advocates for the Applicant.

Ms. Anamika Malhotra, learned A.P.P. for the State/Respondent.

Mr. Mainak Adhikary (Through Legal-aid Panel), learned Advocate for Respondent No. 2.

PSI Mr. Y. S. Jadhav attached to Otur Police Station, District-Pune is present in the Court.

CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J. DATE : 10^th JULY 2025.

P.C. :

Heard Mr. Nikhil Adkine, learned Advocate for the Applicant and Ms. Anamika Malhotra, learned A.P.P. for the State/Respondent.

Notice was issued to Respondent No. 2 on 7^th March 2025.

Ms. Anamika Malhotra, learned A.P.P. for the State/Respondent submits that the Investigating Officer has received a written request from Respondent No. 2 seeking legal assistance in the present matter. She tenders a copy of the letter dated 20^th April 2025. The same is taken on record and marked as “X” for identification.

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Gitalaxmi

15-BA-696-2025.doc

In view of the request made by Respondent No. 2 for legal assistance, Mr. Mainak Adhikary, learned Advocate on the Legal-aid Panel of this Court, who is present in the Court, is requested to represent Respondent No. 2.

At the request of the Court, Mr. Mainak Adhikary, learned Advocate has agreed to appear and represent the Complainant/Respondent No. 2 in the present Bail Application.

Ms. Anamika Malhotra, learned A.P.P. is requested to communicate Respondent No. 2 about the appointment of Mr. Mainak Adhikary, learned Advocate, as her lawyer to represent her in the present Bail Application. Maharashtra Legal-aid Committee to take a note of appointment of Mr. Mainak Adhikary, learned Advocate, under the Legal-aid Scheme to represent Respondent No. 2 in the present Bail Application.

Mr. Nikhil Adkine, learned Advocate for the Applicant assures the Court to furnish entire paper-book of the present Bail Application to Mr. Mainak Adhikary, learned Appointed Advocate, within a period of two days from today.

At the joint request and by consent of the parties, list the matter on 1^st August 2025 .

[ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.]

Digitally signed by GITALAXMI GITALAXMI KRISHNA KRISHNA KOTAWADEKAR KOTAWADEKAR Date: 2025.07.10 21:03:37 +0530

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Gitalaxmi