Kiran Devidas Salunke vs the State of… — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Bombay HC (2026)

Kiran Devidas Salunke vs the State of… — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Both Applicants released on bail in Crime No. 524 of 2021 (Sachin Tanaji Mohite via Khed-Rajgurunagar Police Station; Kiran Devidas Salunke via Khed Police Station, Pune) on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount; conditions: Applicants shall not tamper with the evidence and/or influence the prosecution witnesses and shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when required; Trial Court to decide the case on its own merits uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicants (Sachin Tanaji Mohite and Kiran Devidas Salunke) are entitled to be released on regular bail in Crime No. 524 of 2021 for offences punishable under Sections 302, 201, 120(B) and 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. +1 more

Court's answer

The Applicants are entitled to release on bail: the prosecution's case is based on circumstantial evidence and the alleged eye witness of the incident has died.

Ratio / Principle

The Applicants have been behind bars for more than four years and five months, there is no progress in trial, and the trial may take time to conclude; this justifies release on bail.

Key takeaways

The Applicants have no antecedents, which supports their release on bail.ratio¶33
The co-accused having similar allegations have been released on bail; parity with them supports grant of bail to the Applicants.ratio¶29

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction (Shivkumar Dige, J.), 23 February 2026 — Common order on Criminal Bail Application No. 2828 of 2025 (Sachin Tanaji Mohite) and Criminal Bail Application No. 360 of 2025 (Kiran Devidas Salunke), both arising out of Crime No. 524 of 2021 registered with Khed-Rajgurunagar Police Station and Khed Police Station, Pune, for offences punishable under Sections 302, 201, 120(B) and 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the prosecution case being that the Applicants and co-accused murdered the deceased on the ground of old dispute. Grounds for bail: prosecution case rests on circumstantial evidence; the alleged eye witness of the incident has died; co-accused having similar allegations have been released on bail; Applicants behind bars for more than four years and five months with no progress in trial; Applicants have no antecedents. Held: both Applications allowed; each Applicant to be released on bail on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions of not tampering with evidence or influencing prosecution witnesses and attending 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.

8-BA-2828-2025.doc

N.S.Kamble

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2828 OF 2025

Sachin Tanaji Mohite … Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra … Respondent

WITH

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 360 OF 2025

Digitally signed NILAM by NILAM SANTOSH SANTOSHKAMBLE KAMBLE Date: 2026.02.25 11:31:26 +0530

Kiran Devidas Salunke … Applicant

Versus

The State Of Maharashtra And Anr … Respondents

Mr.Rohal Hogle a/w Mr.Nagesh Khedkar, for the Applicant in BA No.2828 of 2025.

Mr.Premkumar Mishra (Through V.C.), for the Applicant in BA No.360 of 2025.

Mr.B.B. Kulkarni, APP for Respondent-State. Mr.P.S. Sisode, API, Khed Police Station, Pune Rural.

CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J. DATE : 23^rd FEBRUARY 2026

P.C. :

. Both these Bail 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.524 of 2021 registered with Khed-Rajgurunagar Police Station,

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N.S.Kamble

Pune and Khed Police Station, Pune, respectively for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 201, 120(B) and 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘IPC’ for short)

It is prosecution’s case that the Applicants and co-accused murdered the deceased on the ground of old dispute.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicants that the prosecution’s case is based on circumstantial evidence. The only alleged eye witness to the incident has died. The co-accused having similar allegations have been released on bail. Hence, the Applicant’s are entitled for bail on principle of parity and requested to allow the Application.

It is contention of learned APP that the Applicants had enmity with the deceased, on that ground, they murdered him by assaulting with sharp weapon. The police recorded statement of eye witnesses. In that statement he categorically stated about role of the Applicant’s. There is recovery of weapon at the instance of Sachin Mohite. If the Applicants released on bail, they may abscond or threaten prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the Application.

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

The co-accused having similar allegations have been released on

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N.S.Kamble

bail. The prosecution’s case is based on circumstantial evidence. The alleged eye witness of the incident has died. The Applicants are behind bars for more than four years and five months. There is no progress in trial. It may take time to conclude the trial. The Applicants have no antecedents.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant-Sachin Tanaji Mohite be released on bail in Crime No.524 of 2021 registered with KhedRajgurunagar Police Station, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

(i) The Applicant-Kiran Devidas Salunke be released on bail in Crime No.524 of 2021 registered with Khed Police Station, Pune, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

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

(iv) 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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N.S.Kamble

(v) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police

Station as and when required.

(vi) Applications are allowed in the aforesaid terms.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)

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