Vaibhav Tanaji Dhore vs State of Maharashtra — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Bombay HC (2026)

Vaibhav Tanaji Dhore vs State of Maharashtra — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Regular bail in Crime No.368 of 2020 (Bhosari Police Station, Pune) on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000 with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions: no entry into Bhosari Police Station jurisdiction till recording of evidence of the First Informant (except court dates); no tampering with evidence or influencing prosecution witnesses; attendance before the concerned Court as and when required.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicant, arraigned in Crime No.368 of 2020 (Bhosari Police Station, Pune) for offences under Sections 302, 324, 352, 143, 144, 146, 147, 148, 149 IPC, Section 4(25) Arms Act, Sections 37(1) and 142 r/w 135 Maharashtra Police Act and Sections 3(1)(i)(ii) and 3(4) MCOC Act, and in custody for over five years, should be released on regular bail.

Court's answer

From the statement of witness Shri.Dashrat Devkate, it appears that the Applicant assaulted the witness and the First Informant when they were trying to rescue the deceased, while the deceased was being assaulted by the co-accused.

Ratio / Principle

There are no direct allegations against the Applicant of assaulting the deceased; his alleged role was directed at those rescuing the deceased.

Key takeaways

The Applicant has been behind bars for more than five years, a fact taken into account in granting bail.ratio¶27
The Applicant is to be released on bail in Crime No.368 of 2020 on furnishing a PR bond of Rs.25,000 with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.ratio¶30
As a bail condition, the Applicant shall not enter the jurisdiction of Bhosari Police Station till recording of evidence of the First Informant, except on court dates, and shall not tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bail – Murder/MCOC matter (Crime No.368 of 2020, Bhosari Police Station, Pune; Sections 302, 324, 352, 143, 144, 146, 147, 148, 149 IPC, Section 4(25) Arms Act, Sections 37(1) and 142 r/w 135 Maharashtra Police Act, Sections 3(1)(i)(ii) and 3(4) MCOC Act) – Applicant in custody for more than five years – As per statement of witness Shri.Dashrat Devkate, the Applicant assaulted the witness and the First Informant while they were trying to rescue the deceased; no direct allegation against the Applicant of assaulting the deceased – Regular bail granted on PR bond of Rs.25,000 with one or two solvent sureties – Conditions: Applicant not to enter Bhosari Police Station jurisdiction till recording of evidence of First Informant (except court dates), not to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses – Trial Court to proceed uninfluenced by the observations.

17-BA-1341-2025.doc

N.S.Kamble

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.1341 OF 2025

Vaibhav Tanaji Dhore … Applicant

Versus

Digitally signed by NILAM NILAM SANTOSH SANTOSH KAMBLEDate: KAMBLE 2026.01.29 15:20:21 +0530

The State of Maharashtra … Respondent

Mr.Ibrahim Shaikh a/w Ms.Rui Danawala i/b Mr.Ashraf Ali Shaikh, for the Applicant.

Mr.B.B. Kulkarni, APP for Respondent-State.

CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J. DATE : 27^th JANUARY, 2026 P.C. :

. By this Application, Applicant is seeking regular bail in

Crime No.368 of 2020 registered with Bhosari Police Station, Pune,

for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 324, 352, 143, 144, 146, 147, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘IPC’ for short), Sections 4(25) of the Arms Act, Sections 37(1) and 142 read with Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, Sections 3(1)(i)(ii), and 3(4) of the The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (‘MCOC’ Act).

Page 1 of 4

17-BA-1341-2025.doc

N.S.Kamble

It is prosecution’s case that on 8^th August 2020 at around 10.55 p.m. the Applicant and co-accused assaulted the deceased and

First Informant with sickle and murdered the deceased on account of old dispute.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that the allegations against the Applicant are that he assaulted the First Informant with sickle. There are no allegations against the Applicant of assaulting the deceased. The Applicant is behind bars for more than five years. The co-accused having similar allegations have been released on bail and requested to allow the Application.

It is contention of learned APP that, the Applicant is member of crime syndicate. He alongwith co-accused conspired against the deceased and murdered him. The statement under Section 18 of the MCOC of co-accused has been recorded. In the said statement, he has stated about the role played by the Applicant. If Applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the Application.

I have heard both learned counsel. Perused charge-sheet and documents produced on record.

Page 2 of 4

17-BA-1341-2025.doc

N.S.Kamble

From the statement of the witness Shri.Dashrat Devkate, it appears that the Applicant assaulted him and the First Informant when they were trying to rescue the deceased, while being assaulted by the co-accused. The Applicant is behind bars for more than 5 years. There are no direct allegations against the Applicant of assaulting the deceased.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant-Vaibhav Tanaji Dhore be released on bail in Crime No.368 of 2020 registered with Bhosari Police Station, Pune, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant shall not enter in the jurisdiction of Bhosari Police station till recording of evidence of First Informant, except attending Court dates.

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

Page 3 of 4

17-BA-1341-2025.doc

N.S.Kamble

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

(v) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Court as and when required.

(vi) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)

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