Mahesh Ram Adgaonkar vs State of Maharashtra and Anr. — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

Mahesh Ram Adgaonkar vs State of Maharashtra and Anr. — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: in the event of arrest in C.R. No. 119 of 2024 (Ambad Police Station, Nashik city; Sections 406, 409, 420 r/w 34 IPC), release on bail on P.R. Bond of Rs.25,000/- with one surety or two sureties in the like amount, subject to the applicant attending the concerned police station as and when called by the Investigating Officer and cooperating in the investigation.

Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant, apprehending arrest in Crime No. 119 of 2024 registered at Ambad Police Station, Nashik city, for offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 420 read with 34 IPC, should be released on anticipatory bail.

Court's answer

On perusal of the first information report, the Court found a delay of more than 8 years in lodging the FIR and held that, prima facie, even the version of the first informant does not appear to be probable; on that view the Court was inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail.

Ratio / Principle

In the event of arrest of the applicant in C.R. No. 119 of 2024 registered at Ambad Police Station, Nashik city, for the offences under Sections 406, 409, 420 read with 34 IPC, he is to be released on bail on executing a P.R. Bond of Rs.25,000/- with one surety or two sureties in the like amount.

Key takeaways

As a condition of the anticipatory bail, the applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when called by the Investigating Officer and shall cooperate in the investigation.ratio¶26

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail granted (High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction, N.R. Borkar, J., 18.03.2026) to Mahesh Ram Adgaonkar, who apprehended arrest in Crime No. 119 of 2024 registered at Ambad Police Station, Nashik city, for offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 420 read with 34 IPC, arising from allegations of misappropriation of gold ornaments weighing 3825.660 grams and silver ornaments weighing 12152.560 grams worth Rs.1,17,84,632/-. On perusing the first information report, the Court noted a delay of more than 8 years in lodging the FIR and observed that, prima facie, even the version of the first informant did not appear probable, and was therefore inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail. Bail was directed on execution of a P.R. Bond of Rs.25,000/- with one surety or two sureties in the like amount, conditioned on the applicant attending the concerned police station as and when called by the Investigating Officer and cooperating in the investigation. Counsel for respondent No.2/first informant drew attention to an earlier order of this Court dated 12th April 2024 in ABA No. 906 of 2024 recording the applicant's statement that the ornaments were kept in the showroom and still available, and submitted that a search of the showroom found no ornaments; the APP submitted that the applicant was involved in one more crime under the MPID Act.

920-aba-710-26.doc

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 710 OF 2026

Mahesh Ram Adgaonkar …Applicant V/s.

State of Maharashtra & Anr.

...Respondent.

Mr. Akshay Bankapur for the Applicant. Ms S.M. Yadav, APP for the Respondent/State

Mr. Vivek Punjabi a/w. Adv. Sahil Panjwani for the Respondent No.2.

CORAM : N.R. BORKAR, J. DATE : 18.03.2026.

P.C. :

This is an application for anticipatory bail.

The applicant is apprehending his arrest in Crime No. 119 of 2024 of registered at Ambad Police Station, Nashik city for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 420 read with 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The allegations against the present applicant and other coaccused are of misappropriating the gold ornaments weighing 3825.660 grams and silver ornaments weighing 12152.560 grams worth Rs.1,17,84,632/-.

I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the applicant, the learned APP for the respondent / State and the learned counsel for the respondent No.2/first informant.

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Dinesh S. Sherla

920-aba-710-26.doc

Learned counsel for the applicant submits that with ulterior motive false allegations are made against the applicant. It is submitted that there is a delay of about 8 years in lodging the FIR.

On the other hand, learned APP for the respondent/State and the learned counsel for the respondent No.2/first informant submit that the applicant is involved in serious crime of misappropriation. Learned counsel for the respondent No.2/first informant has drawn my attention to the order passed by this Court dated 12^th April 2024 in ABA No. 906 of 2024, wherein a statement was made on behalf of the applicant that he had kept the said ornaments in the showroom and the said ornaments are still available. Learned counsel for the respondent No.2 submits that search of the showroom was taken and no ornaments were found. Learned APP submits that the applicant is involved in one more crime under the MPID Act. It is submitted that considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, the applicant may not be released on anticipatory bail.

I have perused the first information report. There appears to be a delay of more than 8 years in lodging the FIR. Prima facie , even the version of the first informant does not appear to be probable. 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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Dinesh S. Sherla

920-aba-710-26.doc

ORDER

A) The Application is allowed.

B) In the event of arrest of the applicant in C.R. No. 119 of 2024 of registered at Ambad Police Station, Nashik city for the offences punishable under Sections 406, 409, 420 read with 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), he be released on bail on executing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one surety or two sureties in the like amount.

C) The applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when called by the Investigating Officer and shall cooperate in the investigation.

[N.R.BORKAR, J.]

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Dinesh S. Sherla