Dipak Rangu Rathod vs State of Maharashtra — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Bombay HC (2026)

Dipak Rangu Rathod vs State of Maharashtra — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Each Applicant (Nilesh Jitendra Kale, Dipak Rangu Rathod and Ravi Dhondiram Chavan) to be released on bail in Crime No. 20 of 2022, Lonikand Police Station, Pune, on furnishing a P.R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions: (iv) not to enter the limits of District Pune except to attend Trial Court dates till conclusion of trial; (v) to furnish residential address and contact number to Lonikand Police Station; (vi) not to tamper with prosecution evidence; (vii) not to commit any other crime; (viii) liberty to the State to file an application for cancellation of bail on breach of any condition.

Issue for consideration

Whether the three Applicants, charged in Crime No. 20 of 2022 registered with Lonikand Police Station, Pune, for offences under the IPC, Arms Act, Criminal Law Amendment Act, Maharashtra Police Act and MCOCA, are entitled to regular bail.

Court's answer

The Applicants are entitled to regular bail on the principle of parity, because co-accused with similar allegations have been released on bail, the Applicants have been behind bars for more than four years, and there is no progress in the trial.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bail — Regular bail — Principle of parity — Three Applicants (Nilesh Jitendra Kale, Dipak Rangu Rathod, Ravi Dhondiram Chavan) sought regular bail in Crime No. 20 of 2022, Lonikand Police Station, Pune, for offences punishable under Ss. 302, 307, 341, 143, 147, 148, 149, 427, 120(B) and 201 IPC, Ss. 3(24) and 4(25) Arms Act, Ss. 3 and 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act, Ss. 37(1), 37(3) r/w S. 135 Maharashtra Police Act and Ss. 3(1)(i), 3(2), 3(3), 3(4) MCOCA — Allegation that on 12.01.2022 the Applicants and co-accused intercepted the First Informant's car and murdered her father-in-law and brother-in-law with sickle — Co-accused with similar allegations already released on bail; Applicants in custody over four years; no progress in trial — Held, Applicants entitled to bail on parity — Released on P.R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- each with one or two sureties — Conditions: not to enter District Pune limits except to attend trial dates; to furnish address and contact number to Lonikand Police Station; not to tamper with evidence; not to commit other offences; liberty to State to seek cancellation on breach. (Shivkumar Dige, J.)

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N.S.Kamble

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.2082 OF 2025

Nilesh Jitendra Kale … Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra … Respondent WITH CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2088 OF 2025 Digitally signed NILAM by NILAM SANTOSH SANTOSHKAMBLE Dipak Rangu Rathod … Applicant KAMBLE Date: 2026.01.30 10:27:45 +0530 Versus The State of Maharashtra … Respondent WITH CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2409 OF 2025 Ravi Dhondiram Chavan … Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra … Respondent

Mr.Aniket Nikam a/w Mr.Sharad Bhoite, Mr.Kishan Chaudhari, Mr.Rajabhar Chaudhari i/b Ms.Anuradha Joshi, for the Applicant in BA No.2088 of 2025 and 2082 of 2025.

Mr.Aabad Ponda i/b Mr.Karan Jain, for the Applicant in BA No.2409 of 2025.

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N.S.Kamble

Mr.P.P. Jadhav, APP for Respondent-State in all Bail Applications.

Mr.Priyal G. Sarda a/w Mr.Shubham Sane and Ms.Seema Dighe, for the Intervenor in BA No.2082 of 2025.

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

P.C. :

. These three Applications are arising out of the same crime, hence I am deciding it by this common order.

By these Applications, the Applicants are seeking regular bail in Crime No.20 of 2022 registered with Lonikand Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 307, 341, 143, 147, 148, 149, 427, 120(B) and 201 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘IPC’ for short), Sections 3(24) and 4(25) of the Arms Act, Sections 3 and 7 of Criminal Law Amendment Act, Sections 37(1), 37(3) read with Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act and Sections 3(1)(i), 3(2), 3(3) and 3(4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (‘MCOCA’ for short).

It is prosecution’s case that on 12^th January 2022, when First Informant, her father-in-law and her brother-in-law were going to

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N.S.Kamble

Court, the Applicant and co-accused intercepted their car and assaulted father-in-law and brother-in-law of the First Informant with sickle and thereby murdered them. It is alleged that First Informant and other occupants of the car were also assaulted with an intention to kill them.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that names of the Applicants are not mentioned in the FIR. The coaccused, having similar allegations, have been released on bail. In the statement of eye witnesses, no specific role is attributed to the Applicants. The Applicants are behind bars for more than four years. There is no progress in the trial and requested to allow the Application.

It is contention of learned APP along with learned counsel for the Respondent No.2 that the Applicants and co-accused brutally assaulted the deceased with sickle, baseball bat and sharp weapon. The weapons used in the crime are recovered at the instance of the Applicants. The Applicants were present at the spot of incident. If Applicants are released on bail, they may abscond or threaten prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the Application’s.

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

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N.S.Kamble

The co-accused having similar allegations have been released on bail. The Applicants are behind bars for more than four years. There is no progress in trial.

Considering these facts, the Applicants are entitled for bail on principle of parity and I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant-Nilesh Jitendra Kale be released on bail in Crime No.20 of 2022 registered with Lonikand Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 307, 341, 143, 147, 148, 149, 427, 120-B and 201 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 3(1)(i), 3(2), 3(3) and 3(4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, Sections 3 and 4 read with 25 of the Arms Act and Section 37(1)(3) read with 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act on furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The Applicant-Dipak Rangu Rathod be released on bail in Crime No.20 of 2022 registered with Lonikand Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under

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N.S.Kamble

Sections 302, 307, 341, 143, 147, 148, 149, 427, 120-B and 201 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 3(1)(i), 3(2), 3(3) and 3(4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, Sections 3 and 4 read with 25 of the Arms Act and Section 37(1)(3) read with 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act on furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount. (iii) The Applicant-Ravi Dhondiram Chavan be released on bail in Crime No.20 of 2022 registered with Lonikand Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 307, 341, 143, 147, 148, 149, 427, 120-B and 201 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 3(1)(i), 3(2), 3(3) and 3(4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, Sections 3 and 4 read with 25 of the Arms Act and Section 37(1)(3) read with 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act on furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount.

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(iv) The Applicants shall not enter into the limits of District Pune, except to attend the dates before the Trial Court till Conclusion of the trial.

(v) The Applicants shall furnish their residential address and the contact number, if any, to the Lonikand Police Station.

(vi) The Applicants shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence.

(vii) The Applicants shall not commit any other crime. (viii) Liberty is granted to the State to file an Application for cancellation of bail, if the Applicant commits breach of any of the above conditions.

(ix) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)

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