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Hanumant Vasudev Mohite v. The State of Maharashtra

Bombay HC2 Jan 2026IA/4857/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Suspension of sentence; bail pending appeal; Section 420 IPC cheating conviction; 3 years' imprisonment with Rs.5,000/- fine; PR bond Rs.15,000/- with one or two sureties in like amount; short-term sentence; applicant on bail during trial without misuse of liberty; APP objection of absconding rejected; bail bonds before Additional Sessions Judge; Interim Application in Revision Application; Bombay High Court, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction; Shivkumar Dige, J.; 8 January 2026.

What did the court decide?

Substantive sentence of imprisonment suspended pending disposal of the appeal, subject to furnishing a PR bond of Rs.15,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount before the learned Additional Sessions Judge. ¶37

Hanumant Vasudev Mohite vs The State of Maharashtra — Cheating and Forgery | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the substantive sentence imposed on the applicant (conviction under Section 420 IPC, up to 3 years' imprisonment plus fine) should be suspended and the applicant released on bail pending disposal of his appeal, notwithstanding the APP's objection that he may abscond.

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Ratio / Principle

The sentence is suspended till final disposal of the Appeal because the sentence imposed on the Applicant is a short-term sentence, the Applicant was on bail during the trial, and he did not misuse that liberty.

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Key takeaways

Suspension of the substantive sentence is made subject to the applicant furnishing a PR bond of Rs.15,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, and the bail bonds are to be furnished before the learned Additional Sessions Judge.ratio¶30

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction, High Court of Judicature at Bombay (Shivkumar Dige, J.) — Interim Application No. 4857 of 2025 in Revision Application No. 544 of 2025, decided 8 January 2026. The applicant, Hanumant Vasudev Mohite, convicted under Section 420 IPC and sentenced to a maximum of 3 years' imprisonment with fine of Rs.5,000/- (in default, simple imprisonment for one month) by the Additional Sessions Court/trial Court, sought suspension of sentence and bail pending appeal. The trial court had already suspended the sentence during the appeal period and granted interim bail, and the applicant had been on bail throughout the trial without misusing the liberty. Overruling the APP's objection that the applicant might abscond, and noting the sentence was short-term, the court suspended the substantive sentence till final disposal of the appeal, subject to furnishing a PR bond of Rs.15,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount, the bail bonds to be furnished before the learned Additional Sessions Judge. Application disposed of accordingly.

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45-IA-4857-2025.doc

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N.S.Kamble

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

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INTERIM APPLICATION NO.4857 OF 2025 IN

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REVISION APPLICATION NO.544 OF 2025

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Digitally signed NILAM by NILAM SANTOSH SANTOSHKAMBLE KAMBLE Date: 2026.01.09 11:27:21 +0530

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Hanumant Vasudev Mohite … Applicant Versus The State Of Maharashtra … Respondent

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Mr.Vikrant V. Phatate a/w Mr.Mahesh S. Arjun, for the Applicant. Mr.Arfan Sait, APP for Respondent-State.

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________________________________________________________

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CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J. DATE : 8^th JANUARY, 2026

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P.C. :

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. This is an application for suspension of sentence and for bail.

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1. Heard learned counsel for the Applicant and the learned

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Additional Public Prosecutor.

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The Applicant has been convicted for the offence punishable

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under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (‘IPC’ for short). The maximum sentence imposed on the Applicant is of 3 years with fine of

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Rs.5,000/- indefault to suffer Simple Imprisonment for one month.

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45-IA-4857-2025.doc

N.S.Kamble

The learned Additional Sessions Court/trial Court has suspended the

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sentence during the appeal period and has granted interim bail to the Applicant.

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During the trial the Applicant was on bail. It may take time to dispose of the Appeal. Hence, requested to allow the Application.

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The learned APP strongly objected to allow the Application on the ground that if the Applicant released on bail, he may abscond. Hence, requested to reject the Application.

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Considering the submission of both learned counsel as well as sentence imposed on the Applicant is short term sentence. During trial Applicant was on bail. He has not misused the liberty. Considering these facts, the sentence is suspended till final disposal of the Appeal.

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