Pradnya Mahesh Kardile vs the State of Maharashtra — Dowry and Cruelty | Bombay HC (2026)

Pradnya Mahesh Kardile vs the State of Maharashtra — Dowry and Cruelty | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Applicant Pradnya Mahesh Kardile to be released on bail in Crime No. 195/2025 (West Deopur Police Station, Dist. Dhule) on furnishing P.B. and S.B. of Rs. 50,000/-, on conditions that she shall not tamper with prosecution evidence or pressurize witnesses, and shall attend each and every effective date of hearing before the Sessions Court.

Issue for consideration

Whether the prima facie material in the charge sheet against the applicant — her alleged extra-marital relation with accused Kapil, hotel meetings and frequent mobile chats with him, and the transfer of Rs. 50,000/- from her account to Bhushan Kale — supports an inference that she conspired in the commission of the offence. +1 more

Court's answer

Prima facie evidence in the charge sheet is bereft of any basis to infer that the applicant was a conspirator in the commission of the offence; there is no direct evidence depicting her role in the offence.

Ratio / Principle

A record of general conversation between the applicant and accused Kapil, and her transfer of an amount to accused Bhushan Kale, do not permit a definite conclusion that she conspired with them in commission of the offence.

Key takeaways

Since the applicant had been behind bars from 30.05.2025 and the charge was not yet framed, she deserved to be released on bail on some conditions.ratio¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Aurangabad Bench), S. G. Chapalgaonkar J., dated 04.03.2026 — Bail Application No. 248 of 2026 ALLOWED. Applicant Pradnya Mahesh Kardile, charge-sheeted as a conspirator along with co-accused Kapil in Crime No. 195/2025 of West Deopur Police Station, Dist. Dhule, for offences under Sections 103(1), 61(2), 85, 115(2), 238, 351(2), 351(3), 352, 49 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (killing of Sharada, whose body with several external injuries was found at Civil Hospital on 29.05.2025), and in custody since 30.05.2025 with the charge not yet framed (charge sheet filed; Sessions Case No. 142 of 2025 pending trial), was held prima facie NOT established as a conspirator: hotel meetings and mobile chats with accused Kapil, and a transfer of Rs. 50,000/- on 12.05.2025 from her account to Bhushan Kale, were held insufficient to draw a definite conclusion of conspiracy, there being no direct evidence of her role in the offence. She was ordered released on P.B. and S.B. of Rs. 50,000/- with conditions not to tamper with prosecution evidence or pressurize witnesses and to attend each effective hearing date before the Sessions Court.

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2026:BHC-AUG:9263

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD

BAIL APPLICATION NO. 248 OF 2026

Pradnya Mahesh Kardile VERSUS

The State Of Maharashtra

Advocate for Applicant : Mr. Bhagwat Nilesh N, Through Legal Aid APP for Respondent/State : Mr. C.V. Bhadane

… CORAM : S. G. CHAPALGAONKAR, J. DATED : MARCH 04, 2026

ORDER:-

The applicant seeks regular bail in connection with Crime No.195/2025 registered with West Deopur Police Station, Dist. Dhule for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 61(2), 85, 115(2), 238, 351(2), 351(3), 352, 49, 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The investigation was set in motion on the basis of information given by Bhushan Shivaji Mahajan. He alleges that on 08.06.2010, his sister Sharada married with accused - Kapil. After marriage, Kapil was persuing Sharada to bring amount of Rs.2,00,000/- from parents for purchase of flat. Kapil had developed illicit relations with applicant - Pradnya. Since Sharada used to oppose such relationship, Kapil used to beat her. It is alleged that applicant – Pradnya was asking Kapil to remove hurdle of Sharada from their relationship. On 29.05.2025, Kapil informed that Sharada has been admitted to hospital. When informant and other family members

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reached to Civil Hospital, they saw dead body of Sharada. They noticed several external injuries on her person. Accordingly, it is alleged that accused persons killed her.

The investigation progressed in pursuance to aforesaid report. The charge sheet has been filed and now, Sessions Case No.142 of 2025 is pending for trial.

So far as allegations against present applicant is concerned, she is alleged to have extra marital relation with accused – Kapil. The evidence in charge sheet shows that Kapil used to meet applicant at various hotels. She had frequent conversation by way of mobile chat with Kapil. The summary of her bank account as on 29.05.2025 shows transfer of amount of Rs.50,000/- on 12.05.2025 in favour one Bhushan Kale. On the basis of aforesaid material, she is charge sheeted being conspirator along with other accused persons.

Prima facie evidence in charge sheet is bereft to draw inference that applicant was conspirator in commission of offence. There is no direct evidence depicting role of applicant in commission of offence. Merely on the basis of record of general conversation with accused – Kapil or transfer of amount to accused – Bhushan Kale, definite conclusion cannot be drawn that applicant conspired with them in commission of offence.

In that view of matter, since applicant is behind bar from

30.05.2025 and charge is not yet framed, she deserves to be released

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on bail on some conditions. Hence, the following order:

ORDER

(i) Bail Application is allowed.

(ii) The applicant, Pradnya Mahesh Kardile be released on bail in Crime No.195/2025 registered with West Deopur Police Station, Dist. Dhule for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 61(2), 85, 115(2), 238, 351(2), 351(3), 352, 49, 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 on furnishing P.B. and S.B. of Rs.50,000/- (Rs. Fifty Thousand only) on following conditions :

(a) The applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence in any manner or pressurize witnesses.

(b) The applicant shall attend each and every effective date of hearing before Sessions Court.

(iii) Bail Application is disposed of.

(S. G. CHAPALGAONKAR, J.)

Mujaheed//