Kapil Chetan Bhat vs State of Maharashtra and… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Bombay HC (2026)

Kapil Chetan Bhat vs State of Maharashtra and… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Regular bail granted to the Applicant in Crime No.113 of 2022 (Yerwada Police Station, Pune) on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount; conditions: Applicant shall not enter the area where the Victim stays, shall not tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses, shall attend 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.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicant (Kapil Chetan Bhat) should be released on regular bail in Crime No.113 of 2022 registered with Yerwada Police Station, Pune, for offences under Sections 307, 354(D) IPC, Sections 4, 25 Arms Act, Section 12 POCSO Act, Section 37(1) read with Section 135 Maharashtra Police Act, and Sections 3 and 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act.

Court's answer

The Court found that the Applicant was 22 years old at the time of the incident and has been behind bars for more than four years, that the trial is not concluded and may take time to conclude; on these considerations it ordered his release on bail.

Ratio / Principle

The Applicant is to be released on bail in Crime No.113 of 2022 registered with Yerwada Police Station, Pune, on furnishing a PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

Key takeaways

Bail is granted subject to conditions: the Applicant shall not enter the area where the Victim stays, shall not tamper with the evidence or influence the prosecution witnesses, and shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when required.ratio¶¶31
The Trial Court is directed to decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.obiter¶¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction), Shivkumar Dige J., 26 March 2026 — Criminal Bail Application No. 608 of 2026 allowed. Kapil Chetan Bhat, accused in Crime No.113 of 2022 of Yerwada Police Station, Pune, charged under Sections 307 and 354(D) of the IPC, Sections 4 and 25 of the Arms Act, Section 12 of the POCSO Act 2012, Section 37(1) read with Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, and Sections 3 and 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act (alleged knife assault on the First Informant's daughter at school on 14.03.2022), granted regular bail. Grounds: Applicant was 22 years old at the time of the incident; in custody for more than four years; trial not concluded and likely to take further time. Bail on PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount; conditions: not to enter the area where the Victim stays, not to tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses, to attend the concerned Police Station as required; Trial Court to decide the case on its own merits uninfluenced by these observations.

41-BA-608-2026.doc

N.S.Kamble

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 608 OF 2026

Kapil Chetan Bhat … Applicant

Versus

State Of Maharashtra And Anr … Respondents

Digitally signed NILAM by NILAM SANTOSH SANTOSHKAMBLE KAMBLE Date: 2026.03.30 14:51:03 +0530

Mr.Bhavesh Tahkur a/w Mr.Shivam Kukreja i/b Goenka Law Associates, for the Applicant.

Mr.B.B. Kulkarni, APP for Respondent-State. Mr.Ajinkya Jagdale a/w Mr.Yogesh Patil, Ms.Prajakta Gaikwad, Mr.Abhijeet Mirkute and Mr.Prashant Giri, for Respondent No.2(First Informant).

CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J. DATE : 26^th MARCH 2026

P.C. :

. By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No.113 of 2022 registered with Yerwada Police Station, Pune, for the offences punishable under Sections 307, 354(D) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘IPC’ for short), Sections 4, 25 of the Arms Act, Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (‘POCSO’ for short), Section 37(1) read with Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, Section 3 and 7 of Criminal Law Amendment Act.

It is prosecution’s case that on 14^th March 2022, around 11.00

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41-BA-608-2026.doc

N.S.Kamble

a.m., when daughter of the First Informant was in school, the Applicant

went to school and assaulted her with knife with an intention to kill her.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that the Applicant is behind bars for more than four years. At the time of the incident, the Applicant was 22 years old. There is no progress in trial. 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 at the time of incident age of the victim was 15 years. The Applicant went to her school and assaulted her with knife on several body parts. Due to assault she has suffered grievous injuries. Her spleen is removed. The mother of the Applicant has threatened the family member of the First Informant. If the Applicant released on bail, he may abscond or threaten Victim, First Informant and prosecution witnesses, and requested to reject the Application.

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

At the time of the incident, the Applicant was 22 years old. The Applicant is behind bars for more than four years. Yet trial is not concluded. It may take time to conclude the trial.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

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41-BA-608-2026.doc

N.S.Kamble

ORDER

(i) The Applicant be released on bail in Crime No.113 of

2022 registered with Yerwada 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 enter in the area where the Victim stays.

(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.

(v) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when required.

(vi) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)

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