Allowed¶23

Harsh Ashok Jadhav v. State of Maharashtra and Anr.

Bombay HC11 Feb 2026ABA/2247/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Anticipatory bail allowed; Harsh Ashok Jadhav; Crime No. 97 of 2025, Ganeshpuri Police Station; offences under BNS Sections 64(2)(i), 352, 351(2), 78(2), 356(2) and POCSO Sections 4, 6, 8 & 12; allegations of penetrative sexual assault; applicant and victim in love relationship; joint quashing petition by consent; victim's affidavit of no objection; P.R. Bond Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties; Bombay High Court; N.R. Borkar, J.; decision dated 02.04.2026.

What did the court decide?

Anticipatory bail granted: in the event of arrest of the applicant in connection with Crime No. 97 of 2025 registered at Ganeshpuri Police Station, the applicant is to be released on bail on furnishing a P.R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount. ¶23

Harsh Ashok Jadhav vs State of Maharashtra and… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant, apprehending arrest in Crime No. 97 of 2025 registered at Ganeshpuri Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 64(2)(i), 352, 351(2), 78(2), 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4, 6, 8 & 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, should be released on anticipatory bail.

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Court's answer

Having regard to the submissions made (quashing petition filed by consent and the victim's affidavit of no objection to release), the court was inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail.

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Ratio / Principle

In the event of arrest of the applicant in connection with Crime No. 97 of 2025 registered at Ganeshpuri Police Station, he is to be released on bail on furnishing a P.R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail — Bombay High Court, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction (N.R. Borkar, J.), allowed Anticipatory Bail Application No. 2247 of 2025 filed by Harsh Ashok Jadhav, who apprehended arrest in Crime No. 97 of 2025 of Ganeshpuri Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 64(2)(i), 352, 351(2), 78(2), 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4, 6, 8 & 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the allegations being of penetrative sexual assault. Counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant and the victim were in a love relationship and had already filed a petition for quashing the FIR by consent; counsel for the respondent/victim stated that the victim had no objection to the applicant's release and tendered her affidavit to that effect. On that basis the court released the applicant on anticipatory bail in the event of arrest, on furnishing a P.R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount.

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67-aba-2247-2025.doc

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

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ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2247 OF 2025

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Harsh Ashok Jadhav …Applicant

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V/s.

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The State of Maharashtra and Anr.

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...Respondents

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Mr. Sumeet G., a/w Adv. Prakash Khade, a/w Mr. Pankaj Prajapati, Adv. Ravi Chandwani i/b Adv. S. R. Pille, Advocate for the Applicant.

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Mr. S. V. Walve, APP for the Respondent/State. Adv. Mayur P., Advocate for Respondent No.2.

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CORAM : N.R. BORKAR, J. DATE : 02.04.2026.

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P.C. :

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Mentioned out of turn.

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This is an application for Anticipatory Bail.

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The applicant is apprehending his arrest in Crime No. 97 of 2025 registered at Ganeshpuri Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 64(2)(i), 352, 351(2), 78(2), 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under Sections 4, 6, 8

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& 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

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The allegations against the applicant are of penetrative

sexual assault.

Pramod S.Lakare

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67-aba-2247-2025.doc

The learned counsel for the applicant submits that applicant and the victim were in love relationship. It is submitted that they have already filed the petition for quashing the FIR by consent. The learned counsel for the respondent/victim submits that the victim has no objection if the applicant is released on anticipatory bail and has tendered the affidavit of the victim to that effect on record. In that view of the matter, I am inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail. In the result, the following order is passed :

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O R D E R

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a) The Application is allowed.

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b) In the event of arrest of the applicant in connection with Crime No. 97 of 2025 registered at Ganeshpuri Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 64(2)(i), 352, 351(2), 78(2), 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under Sections 4, 6, 8 & 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the applicant be released on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount.

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[N.R.BORKAR, J.]

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Pramod S.Lakare

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Harsh Ashok Jadhav v. State of Maharashtra and Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Harsh Ashok Jadhav v. State of Maharashtra and Anr.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

All orders in this case

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