Rakhi Ravindra Shah vs State of Maharashtra

927-ABA-40-2026.DOC

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.40 OF 2026

Rakhi Ravindra Shah …Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra …Respondent WITH ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.45 OF 2026 Uttam Shankar Jadhav …Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra …Respondent

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Mr. Priyal G. Sarda a/w. Mr. Shubham S. Sane and Ms. Seema Dighe, for the Applicants.

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Ms. R. V. Newton, APP, for the Respondent-State in ABA/40/2026. Ms. S. M. Yadav, APP, for the Respondent-State in ABA/45/2026. Mr. Sagar Janrao, API, EOW, Pune City, Pune, present.

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CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J. DATED : 9^th JANUARY 2026

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PC:-

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Heard Mr. Sarda, learned Counsel appearing for the

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Applicants and Ms. Newton and Ms. Yadav, learned APPs appearing

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for the Respondent-State.

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The Applicant in Anticipatory Bail Application No.40 of 2026, i.e. Rakhi Ravindra Shah is accused No.20 and Applicant in Anticipatory Bail Application No.45 of 2026 i.e. Uttam Shankar Jadhav is Accused No.12 in Crime No. 260 of 2024 registered with Bandgarden Police Station, Pune City, for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 409 and 420 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

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As per the prosecution case, the incident took place during the period 31^st July 2023 till 21^st January 2024. The Informant was the Administrative Officer of Sasoon General Hospital, Pune. Accused Anil Mane, Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO), and Ms. Sulakshana Chabukswar, Cashier were looking after accounts work of the Sasoon Hospital. They have transferred an aggregate amount of Rs.4,18,62,942/- illegally and unauthorisedly in the bank accounts of about 16 Government employees and 8 private persons and mis-appropriated the Government money by committing criminal breach of trust.

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During investigation, it was found that Mr. Sachin Sasar, is the main accused and he was working as Senior Clerk in Sasoon

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General Hospital, Pune, who had transferred an amount of Rs.3,95,323/- in the account of the Applicant- Rakhil Ravindra Shah (Accused No.20) and had transferred an amount of Rs.3,00,000/- in the account of Applicant – Uttam Shankar Jadhav (Accused No.12).

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Mr. Sarda, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicants states that the amounts which these Applicants have received in their accounts have been deposited in the Hospital. The said statement is confirmed by Ms. Newton and Ms. Yadav, learned APPs, on instructions.

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Prima facie, the Applicants’ role in the crime is that the main

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accused- Sachin Sasar has transferred the amounts in the accounts of respective Applicants.

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In any case, the custodial interrogation is not necessary.

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Ms. Yadav, learned APP states that there were total 25 Accused. As far as four are concerned, reports under Section 169 Code of Criminal Procedure have been filed. Out of 21 Accused, 5

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have been arrested and they have been granted regular bail. Four accused have been granted anticipatory bail. One accused is in jail.

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In fact, the said main accused- Sachin Sasar has been granted regular bail by Order dated 3^rd May 2025 passed by learned Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Court No.1, Pune below Exhibit-13 in Regular Criminal Case No.1482 of 2025.

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Although, learned APP strongly opposes the Anticipatory Bail Applications, however, as the Applicants are not the main Accused and the material on record do not show that the Applicants are the beneficiaries of the crime, the case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail.

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In view thereof, the following order is passed:

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O R D E R

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(a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant-Rakhi Ravindra Shah (Anticipatory Bail Application No.40 of 2026) and the Applicant- Uttam Shankar Jadhav (Anticipatory Bail Application No.45 of 2026) in connection with C.R. No.260 of 2024 registered with

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the Bundgarden Police Station, Pune, the Applicants are directed to be released on bail on their furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/- each with one or two solvent sureties each in the like amount.

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(b) The Applicants shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when called by the Investigating Officer and shall co-operate with the investigation.

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

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(d) The Applicants 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.

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