Pornima Pravin Fondke vs the State of Maharashtra — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

Pornima Pravin Fondke vs the State of Maharashtra — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail granted: in the event of arrest in connection with C.R. No.580 of 2024 (Yerwada Police Station, Pune City), the Applicant, Pornima Pravin Fondke, is to be released on bail on executing a P.R. bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions: attendance at the concerned Police Station on 5th and 6th February 2026 (11.00 a.m.-2.00 p.m.) and thereafter once in 15 days on first and third Sundays (11.00 a.m.-2.00 p.m.) with cooperation in investigation; furnishing and updating cell phone number and residential address to the Investigating Officer; no inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts; no departure from India without prior permission of the Court and deposit of Passport before the concerned learned Sessions Court; and no tampering with prosecution evidence or contact with/influence upon the Complainant or witnesses.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicant is entitled to anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail under Section 482 of the BNSS in connection with C.R. No.580 of 2024 registered with Yerwada Police Station, Pune City, for offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2) and 3(5) of the BNS.

Court's answer

Basis of decision: interim protection had already been granted to the Applicant by a learned Single Judge by order dated 11th June 2025 with nothing on record showing misuse of that liberty; even as per the prosecution case the main accused is the Applicant's son; the Applicant is a lady of 52 years; and counsel stated the Applicant will cooperate with the investigation.

Ratio / Principle

A case was made out for grant of anticipatory bail to the Applicant, subject to imposition of certain conditions.

Key takeaways

In the event of arrest in connection with C.R. No.580 of 2024 (Yerwada Police Station, Pune City), the Applicant is to be released on bail on executing a P.R. bond of Rs.1,00,000/- and furnishing one or two sureties in the like amount.ratio¶31
Condition: the Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station on 5th and 6th February 2026 between 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and thereafter once in 15 days (first and third Sunday, 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.) and shall cooperate with the investigation.ratio¶32
Condition: the Applicant shall furnish her cell phone number and residential address to the Investigating Officer and keep the same updated in case of any change.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Madhav J. Jamdar, J.), Anticipatory Bail Application No.901 of 2025, decided 29 January 2026 — Allowed. Pornima Pravin Fondke, a director of companies Alpha Vision and Capita Plus and mother of the main accused, applied under Section 482 of the BNSS for pre-arrest bail in C.R. No.580 of 2024 (Yerwada Police Station, Pune City) for offences under Sections 318(4), 316(2) and 3(5) of the BNS, arising from the allegation (set out in Paragraph 2 of the order dated 22.01.2025 of the learned Additional Session Judge, Pune, in Criminal Bail Application No.7585 of 2024) that she and her son induced the First Informant and other investors with promises of 5% monthly returns and collected Rs.3,13,94,475/- during 05.02.2022 to 05.03.2024 without repaying principal or interest. Relying on the prior protection granted to the Applicant by a learned Single Judge by order dated 11.06.2025, the absence of any recorded misuse of that liberty, the fact that even per the prosecution case the main accused is the Applicant's son, and that the Applicant is a lady of 52 years who undertook to cooperate with the investigation, the Court held a case was made out for anticipatory bail with conditions: release in the event of arrest on a P.R. bond of Rs.1,00,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount; attendance at the police station on 5th-6th February 2026 and thereafter once in 15 days (first and third Sundays, 11.00 a.m.-2.00 p.m.); furnishing/updating contact details to the Investigating Officer; deposit of Passport and no departure from India without prior permission; and no inducement, tampering with evidence, or contact with the Complainant or witnesses. Application allowed and disposed of accordingly.