Madhav Mallikarjun Manore and Ors. vs the State of… — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

Madhav Mallikarjun Manore and Ors. vs the State of… — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: in the event of arrest, the Applicant (Madhav Mallikarjun Manore) to be released on bail in C.R. No.780 of 2024 (Wakad Police Station, Dist. Pimpri-Chinchwad) on executing a P.R. bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions: attending the concerned Police Station on 17th and 18th February 2026 between 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and thereafter as and when called and cooperating with the investigation; furnishing and keeping updated his cell phone number and residential address; not making any inducement, threat or promise; not tampering with prosecution evidence and not contacting or influencing the Complainant or any witness; not leaving India without prior permission of the Court; and depositing his passport with the Investigating Officer.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicants are entitled to anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail in connection with C.R. No.780 of 2024 registered with Wakad Police Station, Pimpri-Chinchwad, for offences under Sections 406 and 420 read with Section 34 of the IPC. +1 more

Court's answer

Taking the record as a whole — the FIR's acknowledgement of a partnership-firm dispute, the Applicants' Special Civil Suit No.1406 of 2024 for dissolution of the firm and settlement of accounts, and the learned Single Judge's recording that the dispute is of civil nature between partners — this Court held that, in the facts and circumstances, a case is made out for grant of Anticipatory Bail.

Ratio / Principle

On perusal of the record, this Court observed that even the FIR records some dispute concerning the partnership firm, and that the said partnership firm is not registered.

Key takeaways

The Applicant is entitled to pre-arrest bail, granted subject to the conditions set out in the Order (police-station reporting on 17th and 18th February 2026 and thereafter as and when called, cooperation with investigation, furnishing/updating cell phone number and residential address, no inducement/threat/promise, no tampering or contacting the Complainant or witnesses, no leaving India without prior permission, deposit of passport with the Investigating Officer).ratio¶32

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Bombay (Madhav J. Jamdar, J.; decided 10th February 2026) allowed Anticipatory Bail Application No.2513 of 2024, filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 by Madhav Mallikarjun Manore and others in connection with C.R. No.780 of 2024 (Wakad Police Station, Pimpri-Chinchwad) for offences under Sections 406 and 420 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Perusing the record, the Court found that even the FIR records a dispute concerning an unregistered partnership firm; that the Applicants had themselves filed Special Civil Suit No.1406 of 2024 at Pune for dissolution of the firm and settlement of accounts; and that a learned Single Judge's interim-protection order of 4 October 2024 recorded that there is substance in the contention that the dispute is of civil nature between partners. Concluding that a case was made out for anticipatory bail, the Court ordered release on a P.R. bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one or two sureties, conditioned on police-station reporting on 17th-18th February 2026 and thereafter as called, cooperation with investigation, updated contact particulars, no inducement or tampering, no contact with the Complainant or witnesses, no foreign travel without prior permission, and deposit of passport with the Investigating Officer. Counsel for Respondent No.2 (referred to as the first informant) had urged custodial interrogation, citing an Agreement dated 22nd November 2021 and alleging collection of about Rs.40 Crores including cash consideration; Applicants' counsel countered with the FIR figures of Rs.34,00,000 invested and a dishonoured cheque of Rs.12,00,000.

8-ABA-2513-2024.DOC

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2513 OF 2024

Madhav Mallikarjun Manore And Ors. …Applicants Versus State of Maharashtra …Respondent

Mr. Ganesh Gupta a/w Mr. Yogen Kakade, Mr. Ganesh Kudmule, Ms.Roshni Naaz, Mr. Sahil Ghorpade, Mr. Madan K. Mr. Surya P. Gupta, Ms. Priyanka Rathod i/b G.G. Legal Associate, Advocate for Applicants.

Mr. Jitendra P. Gorane (Through V.C.) a/w Mr. Aatosh Tayade, Respondent No.2.

Ms. G. P. Mulekar, APP for the State.

API, Nilesh Nalawade, Kalewadi Police Station, Pune present.

CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J. DATED : 10^th FEBRUARY 2026

P.C.:

Heard Mr. Gupta, learned Counsel appearing for the

Applicant, Mr. Gorane, Advocate for Respondent No.2. and Mr. Mulekar, learned APP for the State.

By this application filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 the Applicants are seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with C.R. No.780 of 2024 registered with Wakad

Police Station, Pimpri-Chinchwad, for offences under Sections 406

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and 420 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC).

Mr. Gupta, learned counsel appearing for the Applicants submitted that the civil dispute between partners of a Partnership Firm is being given the colour of criminality by First Informant. He submits that a learned Single Judge by order dated 4^th October, 2024 has granted interim protection by observing that there is substance in the contention that the dispute is of civil nature. He submits that the Applicants have co-operated with the investigation and whatever, documents, which are available with the Applicants have been submitted to the Investigating Officer.

On the other hand, Mr. Gorane, learned counsel appearing for the first informant pointed out the Agreement Dated 22^nd November, 2021 and submitted that the Applicants have collected huge amount to the extent of Rs.40 Crores. He submits that the Applicants have accepted consideration in cash with the fraudulent intention to cheat other partners and therefore custodial interrogation is necessary.

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Mr. Gupta, submits that even as per the FIR only amount of Rs.34,00,000/-(Rupees Thirty Four Lakhs Only) has been invested by the First Informant and out of that cheque of Rs.12,00,000/(Rupees Twelve Lakhs Only) was dishonored. He submits that infact there is serious doubt whether even balance amount of Rs.22,00,000/-(Rupees Twenty Two Lakhs Only) has been invested by the First Informant.

Ms. Mulekar, learned APP strongly opposes granting anticipatory bail. She submits that the Applicants are not cooperating with the investigation and cash receipt book has not been produced by the Applicants. Therefore she submits that custodial interrogation is necessary.

Perusal of the record shows that even FIR also, records that there is some dispute concerning partnership firm. The said partnership firm is not registered. The record also shows that the civil suit bearing Special Civil Suit No.1406 of 2024, has been filed by the Applicants before the Competent Court at Pune, for dissolution of the partnership firm and for settlement of the

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accounts. The learned Single Judge in the order dated 4^th October, 2024 has specifically recorded that there is substance in the contention raised on behalf of the Applicants, that the dispute is of civil nature between partners of the partnership firm. Thus, in the facts and circumstances case is made out for grant of Anticipatory Bail.

Accordingly, the Applicant is entitled to pre-arrest bail. Hence, following Order is passed:

O R D E R

(i) In the event of arrest, the Applicant - Madhav Mallikarjun Manore be released on bail in C.R. No.780 of 2024 registered with Wakad Police Station, Dist. Pimpri-Chinchwad on executing P.R. bond of Rs.1,00,000/- and furnishing one or two sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station on 17^th February 2026, and 18^th February 2026 between 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and thereafter as

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and when called by the Police and shall co-operate with the investigation.

(iii) The Applicant shall furnish his cell phone number and residential address to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated, in case of any change thereto.

(iv) 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 such a person from disclosing the facts to the Court or to any Police personnel.

(v) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant, or any witness, in any manner.

(vi) The Applicant shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court.

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(vii) The Applicant shall deposit passport with the Investigating Officer.

The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed and disposed of accordingly.

(MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.)

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