Vijay Vilas Randive vs State of Maharashtra and… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Bombay HC (2026)

Vijay Vilas Randive vs State of Maharashtra and… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Applicant enlarged on regular bail in Crime No. 145 of 2025 (Chinchwad Police Station, District Pune) on executing a P.R.Bond of Rs.30,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount; conditions: to attend the concerned police station as and when required, and not to tamper with the evidence or attempt to influence or contact the complainant, witnesses or any person concerned with the case.

¶closing line of order (unnumbered)

Issue for consideration

Whether applicant Vijay Vilas Randive should be released on regular bail in Crime No. 145 of 2025 (Chinchwad Police Station, District Pune) for offences punishable under Sections 64(1), 336, 336(3) and 3(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 4, 6, 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, arising from the alleged sexual assault of the 15-year-old first informant.

Court's answer

Regular bail granted on consideration that the record showed friendship between the applicant and the first informant; the applicant had been in custody for more than six months; he was a second-year B.Sc. student whose academic career would be ruined if kept behind bars; the trial was likely to take time; and although the charge-sheet was filed there was no progress in the trial.

Ratio / Principle

Release on bail conditioned upon the applicant attending the concerned police station as and when required and refraining from tampering with the evidence or attempting to influence or contact the complainant, witnesses or any person concerned with the case.

¶order clause (iii)

Key takeaways

The observations in the bail order were made only for the purpose of granting bail; the Trial Court is to decide the case on its own merits in accordance with law, uninfluenced by those observations.obiter¶6

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Bombay (Shivkumar Dige, J.; 11 February 2026), Bail Application No. 3897 of 2025 — regular bail allowed. The applicant, charged in Crime No. 145 of 2025 (Chinchwad Police Station, District Pune) under Sections 64(1), 336, 336(3) and 3(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 4, 6, 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 for allegedly sexually assaulting his 15-year-old first informant by taking her to a lodge on 18 May 2025, was enlarged on bail. Grounds relied on by the Court: friendship/acquaintance between the applicant and the informant; detention exceeding six months; the applicant being a second-year B.Sc. student whose academic career would be ruined by further custody; likelihood that conclusion of the trial would take time; and the charge-sheet having been filed with no progress in the trial. Bail ordered on a P.R.Bond of Rs. 30,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, subject to attendance at the police station when required and abstention from tampering with evidence or contacting/influencing the complainant or witnesses. The Court clarified that its observations were made only for the purpose of granting bail and would not influence the Trial Court, which must decide the case on its own merits.

32-BA-3897-2025 (CR).doc

Shubhada S Kadam

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3897 OF 2025

Vijay Vilas Randive …Applicant

versus

The State Of Maharashtra and anr. ….Respondents

_________________________________________________________________ Mr. Vilas B. Tapkir, Advocate for Applicant. Ms. Ranjana D. Humane, APP for Respondent No.1-State. Ms. Padmavati Vaishya i/b. Ms. Seema Singh, Advocate for Respondent No.2.

_________________________________________________________________ CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J. DATE : 11^th FEBRUARY, 2026.

P.C. :

By this application, the applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No. 145 of 2025 registered with Chinchwad Police Station, District Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 64(1), 336, 336(3) and 3(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 4, 6, 8 and 12 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Digitally signed by SHUBHADA SHUBHADA SHANKAR SHANKAR KADAM KADAM Date: 2026.02.13 11:06:29 +0530

It is prosecution's case that on 18^th May 2025, the applicant sexually assaulted the first informant by taking her in lodge. It is alleged that there was an acquaintance between the applicant and the first informant, who was 15 years old, at the time of the incident.

It is contention of learned counsel for the applicant that there was friendship between the first informant and applicant for two years

Page 1 of 3

32-BA-3897-2025 (CR).doc

Shubhada S Kadam

prior to the incident. The applicant is a 2^nd year B.Sc. sttudent. He is behind bars for more than six months. If he remains behind bars, his academic career will be ruined. It may take time to conclude the trial and requested to allow the application.

It is contention of learned APP along with learned counsel for respondent No.2 that the applicant has taken undue advantage of friendship between him and the first informant. The applicant was aware about the age of the first informant. He took her to lodge and sexually assaulted her. Immediately a complaint was lodged against the applicant. If the applicant is released on bail, he may threaten the first informant and prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the application.

I have heard all learned counsel, perused charge sheet and the documents produced on record. It appears from record that there was friendship between the applicant and the first informant. The applicant is behind bars for more than six months. He is 2^nd year B.Sc. Student. It may take time to conclude the trial. If the applicant remains behind bars, his academic career will be ruined. Charge-sheet is filed, but there is no progress in the trial. Considering these facts , I pass following order :

ORDER

(i) The applicant be enlarged on bail in Crime No. 145 of 2025

registered with Chinchwad Police Station, District Pune, on

Page 2 of 3

32-BA-3897-2025 (CR).doc

Shubhada S Kadam

executing P.R.Bond in the sum of Rs.30,000/- with one or two

sureties in the like amount.

(ii) The applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when required.

(iii) The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or attempt to influence or contact the complainant, witnesses or any person concerned with the case.

The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms and is accordingly disposed of.

It is made clear that the above observations are made only for the purpose of granting bail and the Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits in accordance with law and uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.

All concerned to act on the authenticated copy of this order.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)

Page 3 of 3