Ritesh Vijay Kondhare vs State of Maharashtra — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Ritesh Vijay Kondhare vs State of Maharashtra — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Release of the Applicant on bail in Crime No.220 of 2022 (Baramati Police Station, Pune) on furnishing a 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 the evidence or influence prosecution witnesses and shall attend the concerned Court as and when required; the Trial Court to decide the case on its own merits uninfluenced by the observations in this order.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicant, Ritesh Vijay Kondhare, should be released on regular bail in Crime No.220 of 2022 registered with Baramati Police Station, Pune, for offences punishable under Sections 307, 385, 323, 504 and 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Sections 37(1) read with Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, and Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2) and 3(4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999. +1 more

Court's answer

Regular bail was granted to the Applicant in Crime No.220 of 2022 registered with Baramati Police Station, Pune, on furnishing a PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

Ratio / Principle

A ground for granting bail was that the Applicant had been behind bars for more than three years and there was no progress in the trial.

Key takeaways

A further ground for granting bail was parity: the co-accused who were present with the Applicant and participated in assaulting the First Informant had already been released on bail.ratio¶27
The Trial Court was directed to decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in the bail order.obiter¶35

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Shivkumar Dige, J.) allowed Criminal Bail Application No.5116 of 2024 and granted regular bail to Ritesh Vijay Kondhare, applicant in Crime No.220 of 2022 of Baramati Police Station, Pune, registered for offences punishable under Sections 307, 385, 323, 504 and 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Sections 37(1) read with Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, and Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2) and 3(4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999. The prosecution alleged that on 21st December 2022 the Applicant and co-accused assaulted the First Informant and his friend with sickle, fist and kick blows with an intention to kill them over an old dispute. Granting bail, the Court noted that the Applicant had been behind bars for more than three years with no progress in the trial, and that the co-accused who were present with him and participated in the assault had already been released on bail. Bail was ordered on a PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount, with conditions that the Applicant shall not tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses and shall attend the concerned Court as required; the Trial Court was directed to decide the case on its own merits, uninfluenced by the observations in the order.

12-BA-5116-2024.doc

N.S.Kamble

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.5116 OF 2024

Ritesh Vijay Kondhare … Applicant

Versus

Digitally signed by NILAM NILAM SANTOSH SANTOSH KAMBLEDate: KAMBLE 2026.01.29 15:20:14 +0530

State Of Maharashtra … Respondent

Mr.Kuldeep U. Nikam a/w Mr.Om N. Latpate and Mr.Nishi Singhavi, for the Applicant. Mr.Swapnil Pednekar, APP for Respondent-State.

CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.

DATE : 27^th JANUARY, 2026

P.C. :

. By this Application, Applicant is seeking regular bail in

Crime No.220 of 2022 registered with Baramati Police Station, Pune,

for the offences punishable under Sections 307, 385, 323, 504 and 506

read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘IPC’ for short),

Sections 37(1) read with Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2) and 3(4) of the The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (‘MCOC’ Act).

Page 1 of 3

12-BA-5116-2024.doc

N.S.Kamble

It is prosecution’s case that on 21^st December 2022 at 10.30 a.m., the Applicant and co-accused assaulted the First Informant and

his friend with sickle, fist and kick blows with an intention to kill them on the ground of old dispute.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that the Applicant is behind bars for more than three years. There is no progress in the trial. The co-accused having similar allegations have been released on bail and requested to allow the Application.

It is contention of learned APP that the Applicant has six antecedents. He assaulted the First Informant with an intention to kill him. If the Applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the Application.

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

The Applicant is behind bars for more than 3 years. There is no progress in trial. The co-accused who were present with the Applicant and participated in assaulting the First Informant have been released on bail.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

Page 2 of 3

12-BA-5116-2024.doc

N.S.Kamble

ORDER

(i) The Applicant-Ritesh Vijay Kondhare be released on bail in Crime No.220 of 2022 registered with Baramati Police Station, Pune, 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 Court as and when required.

(v) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)

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