Case brief
What is this about?
Criminal Bail Application No. 4292 of 2024, High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Circuit Bench at Kolhapur (Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction), decided by NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J. on 5 January 2026 (corrected order pursuant to speaking-to-minutes order dated 16/02/2026). Applicant Umar Amirkhan Mulla sought bail in Crime No. 198 of 2023, Dhebewadi Police Station, District Satara, for offences under Section 302 read with 34 IPC concerning the death of Ruturaj Dilip Deshmukh; F.I.R. by the deceased's brother named co-accused Vaibhav Kale and Shubham Khedekar; applicant arrested 19 December 2023; charge-sheet filed 6 March 2024; matter numbered Sessions Case No. 33 of 2024. Court held the case is based on circumstantial evidence — last-seen circumstance in a bar and recovery of the applicant's own blood-stained clothes with forensic report awaited — the chain of circumstances is prima facie incomplete and evidence scanty; with over two years in custody and no imminent trial, pre-trial detention cannot be punishment. Bail allowed on personal bond of Rs. 15,000/- with one surety in the like amount; applicant barred from entering Dhebewadi police station jurisdiction till conclusion of trial, directed not to tamper with prosecution evidence and to scrupulously attend trial. Advocates: Priyal G. Sarda with Onkar Bajaj for the applicant; Anand S. Shalgaonkar APP for the State.