18-ABA-3609-2025.ODT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3609 OF 2025 Smt. Snehal Rajesh Pawar …Applicants Versus The State of Maharashtra …Respondents Adv. Chintan Shah a/w Adv. Rohan Chaughule, for Applicant. Ms. Poonam Bhosale, A.P. P., for the Respondent – State. PSI Ravindra Deelip Ranbhire, Naupada Police Station, Thane, is present. CORAM : PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J. DATE : 27TH JULY 2026 P.C:- 1. Heard learned counsel for the applicant as well as learned APP for the respondent - State. 2. The applicant has filed the instant application seeking pre- arrest bail in Crime No.189 of 2025 dated 24.02.2025, registered with Naupada Police Station, Thane, under Section 103(1), 238 and 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 3. The offence is registered on the basis of a report lodged by Varsha Shobhit Raghunandan alleging that on 19th February 2025, 27th July 2026 18-ABA-3609-2025.ODT the daughter of her maternal cousin brother, by name Yashaswi who was handicapped, deaf and dumb and who was suffering from serious ailments, was murdered by somebody and on 20th February 2025 at about 1:30 a.m. in the night time, the three accused persons had carried her dead body from a four wheeler. On the basis of this report, the FIR came to be registered against the three accused persons, including this applicant who is mother of the deceased. 4. Advocate Shah, learned counsel for applicant submitted that, the allegations about commission of murder are imaginary and without any basis. It is submitted that the deceased girl had died naturally on account of her illness and her body was being carried to her native place for funeral purposes. It is also submitted that, the complainant has lodged the false report in the background of a long standing dispute in between the complainant and the accused. It is also submitted that on the basis of CCTV footage, showing that something in white bed sheet was being kept in the Maruti car nothing can be concluded. Such a video is not sufficient to show involvement of these persons in the alleged offence of murder. Page 2 of 5 27th July 2026 18-ABA-3609-2025.ODT 5. As against this, learned APP for the respondent - State opposed the application and submitted that the offence of murder is a serious offence and there are specific allegations about involvement of this applicant. By relying on the Panchanama of the CCTV footage ( at page 59 of the application) she submitted that the involvement of the applicant is clear in view of her activities recorded in the night of 20th February 2025, in which she along with two other accused persons is seen while placing the body covered in white cloth in a car. Apart from this, by inviting attention to the statement of the Taxi driver, Mr Vinod Nishad recorded during investigation, she submitted that the suspicious behaviour of the accused persons was noticed and involvement of this applicant is clear. She submitted that although chargesheet is filed, the investigation in the matter against this applicant needs to be made and considering the seriousness of the offence, the custodial interrogation of the applicant is necessary. 6. Perused the FIR and the documents filed on record. It appears that the complainant has specifically alleged that this applicant was seen actively involved in the video footage which 27th July 2026 18-ABA-3609-2025.ODT was received on her mobile. The conduct of this applicant along with the other accused persons in taking away the dead body during night time of 20th February 2025, without disclosing the death of her daughter to anybody, clearly shows their suspicious conduct. A perusal of the Panchnama of CCTV footage also corroborates the contentions about involvement of the applicant along with other accused persons. Apart from this, the statement of taxi driver, Mr Vinod, who is an independent person also shows involvement of the applicant in the process of secretly carrying away the dead body. 7. In view of all these aspects, there is material to show a strong prima facie case against this applicant. There are serious allegations about administration of poison by this applicant who was in direct touch with the deceased and was daily giving food to her. These allegations are serious in nature. There are many aspects about which investigation is required to be done. Considering the prima facie involvement of this applicant in the serious offence of murder, at this stage, the custodial interrogation of this applicant appears to be very much necessary. Page 4 of 5 27th July 2026 18-ABA-3609-2025.ODT 8. Having regard to the serious nature of offence and the material against this applicant in the CCTV footage showing her involvement in the offence, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to this applicant. Hence, the instant application for anticipatory bail is rejected. (PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.) VDMokal/- 27th July 2026