Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court (R. M. Joshi, J., 20 April 2026) dismisses regular bail application of Jayesh Mahendra Panchal in murder FIR C.R. No. 284 of 2022, Arnala Police Station (Ss.302, 201, 465, 466, 468 IPC). Circumstantial-evidence case sustained prima facie by motive (money on promise of employment), CCTV showing victim entering accused's shop and never seen alive again (13-minute footage gap urged by defence), tempo-driver testimony on cupboard containing the corpse removed from the shop, and S.23 BSA 2023 recovery of the victim's belongings; defence entrustment explanation rejected as unsupported. Bail refused; application dismissed.
What did the court decide?
Prima facie, the applicant is connected with the crime by the cumulative circumstances of: (i) motive arising from the dispute between the applicant and the deceased over money received by the applicant on a promise of employment; (ii) CCTV footage showing the deceased entering the applicant's shop after which he was not seen alive by any other person; (iii) the tempo driver's statement that the wooden cupboard in which the dead body was found was removed from the applicant's shop; and (iv) seizure of incriminating articles, including recovery of the deceased's personal belongings pursuant to the memorandum under S.23 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.