Akshata Somnath Birajdar vs the State of Maharashtra — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

Akshata Somnath Birajdar vs the State of Maharashtra — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Release on anticipatory bail, in the event of arrest in Crime No. 705 of 2024 (Pimpri Police Station), on furnishing a P.R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount; the applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when called by the investigating officer and shall co-operate in the investigation.

Issue for consideration

Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the applicant, who apprehends arrest in Crime No. 705 of 2024 registered at Pimpri Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 406, 420 & 506 read with 34 IPC and Section 3 of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act.

Court's answer

In view of the statement of the counsel for the first informant recorded in Paragraph 11 of this Court's order in Anticipatory Bail Application No. 2602 of 2025 that Accused Nos. 3 and 4 are women and have no significant role to play in the crime, the applicant is released on anticipatory bail in the event of arrest in Crime No. 705 of 2024, on furnishing a P.R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, conditioned on attending the concerned police station as and when called by the investigating officer and co-operating in the investigation.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail granted. High Court of Judicature at Bombay (Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction), N.R. Borkar, J., dated 12.03.2026, in Anticipatory Bail Application No. 3588 of 2024: Akshata Somnath Birajdar, sister of the main accused Abhishek Birajdar, apprehended arrest in Crime No. 705 of 2024 registered at Pimpri Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 406, 420 & 506 read with 34 IPC and Section 3 of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act, the prosecution alleging defrauding of investors to the tune of Rs. 1,48,64,659/-. Relying on the statement of the counsel for the first informant recorded in Paragraph 11 of this Court's order in Anticipatory Bail Application No. 2602 of 2025 that Accused Nos. 3 and 4 are women with no significant role to play in the crime, the court allowed the application and directed release on 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 as and when called and co-operation with the investigation.

904-aba-3588-2024.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3588 OF 2024

Akshata Somnath Birajdar …Applicant

V/s.

The State of Maharashtra and Ors.

...Respondents

Mr. Akshay Naidu, a/w Ms. Nidhi Chauhan, a/w Mr. Harshwardhan Karande, i/b Mr. Vishwanath Patil, Advocate for the Applicant. Ms. S. M. Yadav, APP for the Respondent/State.

Mr. Niranjan Bhavake a/w Ms. Drishti Madhani, Mr. Anurag Ramekar a/w Ms. Vaishnavi Chore, i/b Bhavake and Associate Advocates, Advocates for the Respondent Nos. 2 to 14.

CORAM : N.R. BORKAR, J. DATE : 12.03.2026.

P.C. :

This is an application for Anticipatory Bail.

The applicant is apprehending her arrest in Crime No. 705 of 2024 registered at Pimpri Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 420 & 506 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act.

Pramod S.Lakare

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904-aba-3588-2024.doc

According to the prosecution, the present applicant and other co-accused defrauded the investors to the tune of Rs.1,48,64,659/-. The present applicant is the sister of the main accused Abhishek Birajdar.

The learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has nothing to do with the alleged crime. It is submitted that the applicant is not the beneficiary of alleged defrauded amount. In support of the said submission, the learned counsel for the applicant has drawn my attention to the order passed by this Court in Anticipatory Bail Application No. 2602 of 2025. Paragraph No.11 of the said order reads thus :

As far as the Order dated 24^th June 2025 passed by the Division Bench of this Court in Criminal Writ Petition No.1161 of 2025 filed by Accused No.4 – Shubhangi Shruti Shivkumar Patil alias Shruti Abhishek Birajdar and the Order dated 15^th January, 2025 passed in Anticipatory Bail Application No.3588 of 2024 filed by Accused No.3 – Akshata Somnath Birajdar, it is the submission of Mr. Bhavake, learned Counsel for the First Informant, that Accused Nos. 3 and 4 are women

Pramod S.Lakare

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904-aba-3588-2024.doc

and they have no significant role to play in the crime.

In view of the statement of the learned counsel for the first informant recorded in the above order that the applicant has no significant role to play in the crime, I am inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail. In the result, the following order is passed :

O R D E R

a) The Application is allowed.

b) In the event of arrest of the applicant in connection with Crime No. 705 of 2024 registered at Pimpri Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 420 & 506 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) 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

Pramod S.Lakare

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904-aba-3588-2024.doc

amount.

c) The applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when called by the investigating officer and shall co-operate in the investigation.

[N.R.BORKAR, J.]

Pramod S.Lakare

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