Gaurav Sanjay Pattadhri vs the State of… — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Bombay HC (2026)

Gaurav Sanjay Pattadhri vs the State of… — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Regular bail to applicant Gaurav Sanjay Pattadhri in Crime No. 136 of 2025 (Lonawala Rural Police Station, Pune) on furnishing P.R. bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions of not tampering with evidence or influencing prosecution witnesses and attending the concerned police station as and when required; trial court to decide the case on its own merits uninfluenced by the observations in this order.

Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant Gaurav Sanjay Pattadhri should be granted regular bail in Crime No. 136 of 2025 registered with Lonawala Police Station, Pune, for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 109, 118(1), 115(2), 352, 351(2), 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 190 and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Court's answer

The main role of assaulting the deceased was attributed to the absconding co-accused Pradeep Choudhary, who was alleged to have assaulted the deceased with a rod on his head.

Ratio / Principle

The allegations against the applicant were confined to his being part of the group that assaulted the co-passengers and halted their vehicles, not to assaulting the deceased.

Key takeaways

Bail was granted considering that the applicant had been behind bars for more than 11 months, had no antecedents, and a co-accused having similar allegations had already been released on bail.ratio¶22
The applicant was ordered to be released on bail in Crime No. 136 of 2025 registered with Lonawala Rural Police Station, Pune, on furnishing a P.R. bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.ratio¶26
Release was made subject to conditions, including that the applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or influence prosecution witnesses and shall attend the concerned police station as and when required.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Bail Application No. 1032 of 2026 (Bombay High Court, Shivkumar Dige, J.; decided 27 April 2026) — Regular bail granted. Applicant sought bail in Crime No. 136 of 2025, Lonawala Police Station, Pune, for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 109, 118(1), 115(2), 352, 351(2), 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 190 and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the prosecution case being that on 25/05/2025 the applicant and co-accused murdered the deceased in a road rage incident. The Court found that the main role of assaulting the deceased (with a rod on his head) was attributed to the absconding co-accused Pradeep Choudhary, while the applicant was alleged only to have been part of the group that assaulted co-passengers and halted their vehicles; the applicant had been in custody for more than 11 months, had no antecedents, and a co-accused with similar allegations had already been released on bail. Applicant released on P.R. bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties, subject to conditions of not tampering with evidence or influencing prosecution witnesses and attending the concerned police station as required; trial court to decide uninfluenced by the observations.

12-BA-1032-2026__CR_.doc

Tikam

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1032 OF 2026

VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM

Digitally signed by VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM Date: 2026.05.04 18:33:23 +0530

Gaurav Sanjay Pattadhri …Applicant VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra …Respondent

Mr. Kuldeep Nikam, Advocate for Applicant. Ms. Kranti T. Hiwrale, APP for Respondent-State. IO Prashat Aware (thr.VC), Lonawala Gramin Police Station present.

CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J. DATE : 27^th APRIL, 2026.

P.C. :

Heard learned counsel for the Applicant and learned APP for

the State.

By this application, the applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No. 136 of 2025 registered with Lonawala Police Station, Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 109, 118(1), 115(2), 352, 351(2), 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 190 and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for shor ‘’BNS’).

It is prosecution’s case that on 25/05/2025, the applicant and co-accused murdered the deceased in road rage incident.

It is contention of learned counsel for the applicant that main role of assaulting to the deceased is attributed to the absconding accused

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Pradeep Choudhary. Applicant was part of the group. But there are no allegations against him to assault the deceased and allegations against him of assaulting other witnesses. Applicant has no antecedents. Applicant is behind bars for more than 11 months. There is no progress in the trial. The co-accused having similar allegations has been released on bail and requested to allow the application.

It is contention of learned APP that applicant was part of group. He assaulted passengers and informant with weapon. There is involvement of the applicant in the assault to the deceased. If applicant is released on bail, he may abscond or threaten prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the application. 6. I have heard both learned counsel. Perused charge-sheet and documents produced on record.

The main allegations against the co-accused Pradeep Choudhary, who is absconding, against whom the allegations are that he assaulted the deceased with rod on his head. The allegations against the applicant that he was the part of group, who assaulted the co-passengers and halted their vehicles. Applicant is behind bars for more than 11 months. He has no antecedent. The co-accused having similar allegations has been released on bail.

Considering these facts, I pass following order:

ORDER

(i) The Applicant- Gaurav Sanjay Pattadhri be released on bail in

Crime No. 136 of 2025 registered with Lonawala Rural Police Station, Pune, on furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs.25,000/-

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with one or two solven sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and/or influence the prosecution witnesses.

(iii) The Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.

(iv) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when required.

(v) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)

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