Balu Ananda Dangle vs State of Maharashtra

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14-BA-160-2026.doc

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N.S.Kamble

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

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CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 160 OF 2026

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Digitally signed NILAM by NILAM SANTOSH SANTOSHKAMBLE KAMBLE Date: 2026.03.09 18:06:37 +0530

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Balu Ananda Dangle … Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra … Respondent ____________________________________________________________

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Mr.Sachin Dhakephalkar, for the Applicant. Mr.P.P. Jadhav, APP for Respondent-State. Mr.S.R. Gosavi, HC, Chhavani Police Station, Malegaon, Nashik

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____________________________________________________________ CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J. DATE : 05^th MARCH 2026

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P.C. :

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. By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.98 of 2025 registered with Chavani Police Station, Malegaon, Nashik, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 61(2), 336(2), 337, 338, 340(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (‘BNS’ for short).

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It is prosecution’s case that the Applicant was working as Headmaster in one of the schools of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Sanstha and he forwarded salary bills and other bills of co-accused Nitin Suryawanshi, Rajendra Nikam and Sandeep Jadhav, who were appointed by co-accused

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14-BA-160-2026.doc

N.S.Kamble

Trustee’s on false and fabricated document. It is alleged that their appointments are illegal.

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It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that the Applicant was appointed as Headmaster in 2015 and the appointment of the alleged co-accused was done in the year 2012. So, the Applicant is not concerned with the alleged appointment’s. As a Headmaster, it was Applicant’s duty to forward the bills to the Education Department and Education Department has sanctioned the said bills. The said bills were credited in the bank accounts of the co-accused. The Applicant has retired in the year 2022 and complaint is lodged in the year 2025. The Applicant is behind bars for more than three months. The Applicant has no antecedents, and requested to allow the Application.

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It is contention of learned APP that total fraud amount is around Rs.1,50,00,000/-. The Applicant was aware about bogus bills of the coaccused, in spite of that, he forwarded the said bills without verifying them, it shows his involvement in the crime. If the Applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the Application.

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

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14-BA-160-2026.doc

N.S.Kamble

The Applicant is behind bars for more than three months. The appointment of the co-accused by the Trustees was made in the year 2012, whereas the Applicant started working as Headmaster in the year 2015. It is alleged that he forwarded bills of the co-accused to Education Department. Considering the allegations against the Applicant, to prove his role in present crime evidence is required.

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Considering these facts, I pass following order.

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ORDER

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(i) The Applicant be released on bail in Crime No.98 of 2025 registered with Chavani Police Station, Malegaon, Nashik, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

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

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(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.

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

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(v) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms.

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14-BA-160-2026.doc