Amod Vasantrao Mhetar vs State of Maharashtra — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

Amod Vasantrao Mhetar vs State of Maharashtra — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Regular bail in Crime No. 824 of 2024 (Rabodi Police Station, District Thane) on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions that the Applicant shall not tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses and shall attend the concerned police station as and when required.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicant, Amod Vasantrao Mhetar, is entitled to regular bail in Crime No. 824 of 2024 (Rabodi Police Station, District Thane) for offences punishable under Ss. 318(4), 316(2), 316(5), 351(2), 61, 3(5) BNS 2023 and Ss. 3 and 4 MPID Act.

Court's answer

Applicant Amod Vasantrao Mhetar to be released on bail in Crime No. 824 of 2024 registered with Rabodi Police Station, District Thane, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

Ratio / Principle

Bail granted on the grounds that the Applicant has been in custody for more than 1 year and 4 months, has already been released on bail in other offences of similar nature, his property stands seized under the MPID Act, and the trial is likely to take time to conclude.

Key takeaways

Parity consideration: the first informant had given no objection to the release on bail of a co-accused against whom similar allegations are made.ratio¶19
Condition of bail: the Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and/or influence the prosecution witnesses.ratio¶26
The Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bail granted — Amod Vasantrao Mhetar v. State of Maharashtra, Bail Application No. 2947 of 2025 (High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction, SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J., 9th April, 2026): Regular bail allowed in Crime No. 824 of 2024 registered with Rabodi Police Station, District Thane, for offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2), 316(5), 351(2), 61, 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3 and 4 of the MPID Act, arising from the alleged luring of the First Informant to invest Rs.23,60,000/- in the GDCC Crypto Currency Project without returns. Grounds relied upon: custody exceeding 1 year 4 months; bail already obtained in other similar offences; property seized under the MPID Act; trial expected to take time; and the first informant having raised no objection to release of a similarly placed co-accused. Order: release on PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount; conditions against tampering with evidence or influencing prosecution witnesses and requiring attendance at the concerned police station as and when required; Trial Court to decide the case on its own merits uninfluenced by the observations in this order.

502 BA 2947.25.doc

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2947 OF 2025

Amod Vasantrao Mhetar ..Applicant Vs. State of Maharashtra ..Respondent

..Respondent

Mr. Niteen Pradhan, Senior Advocate i/by Mr. Vikram V. Tare-Patil a/w Mr. Sachin N. Nangare, Mr. Vivek Prajapati and Shubhada Khot for Applicant.

Smt. R.D. Humane, APP for Respondent-State.

Mr. Kapil Dave for Intervenor in 3356 of 2025 and 3359 of 2025.

CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J. DATE : 9^th APRIL, 2026.

P.C. :

By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No. 824 of 2024 registered with Rabodi Police Station, District Thane, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2), 316(5), 351(2), 61, 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (“BNS”), 2023 and under Sections 3 and 4 of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999. (“MPID Act”).

It is the prosecution’s case that the Applicant and co-Accused lured the First Informant to invest the amount in Global Digital Crypto Currency (“GDCC Crypto Currency Project”) with assurance of handsome returns on it. On the say of the Applicant and co-Accused, First Informant

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502 BA 2947.25.doc

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invested amount of Rs.23,60,000/-, but he did not get amount nor returns on it.

It is the contention of learned Senior Counsel for Applicant that Applicant is behind bar for more than 1 year and 4 months. There is no progress in the trial. Learned counsel further submitted that the First Informant had given no objection to co-Accused to release on bail. The applicant had been released on bail in other crimes of similar nature. Property of the Applicant is seized under the M.P.I.D Act and requested to allow the Application.

It is the contention of learned APP and learned Counsel for First Informant that applicant is habitual offender. Several offences have been registered against the Applicant. Applicant has committed several offences of similar nature. There are specific allegations against the Applicant that he attended the seminars and lured the First Informant and other investors to invest the amount in crypto currency. The amount was transferred in the bank account of the Applicant and thereafter it was transferred in the bank account of co-Accused. If the Applicant is released on bail, he may abscond and requested to reject the Application.

I have heard all learned Counsel. Perused the charge-sheet and documents produced on record. The first informant has given no objection for releasing the co-Accused on bail against whom similar allegations are

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502 BA 2947.25.doc

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levelled like the Applicant. Applicant is behind bar for more than 1 year and 4 months. He has been released on bail in other offences of similar nature. His property is seized under the provisions of MPID Act. It may take time to conclude the trial. I pass following order:

ORDER

(i) The Applicant- Amod Vasantrao Mhetar be released on bail in Crime No. 824 of 2024 registered with Rabodi Police Station, District Thane, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

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

(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.

(iv) The Applicant shall attend the concerned police station, as and when required.

(v) Bail Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)

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