17-ABA-2499-2025.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2499 OF 2025 Ankur Sambhaji Salunkhe … Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra And Ors. … Respondents ---- Mr. Gautam Powar a/w Vinay Kadam, for the Applicant. Mr. S. S. Chaudhari, APP for the Respondent – State. Mr. Pravinkumar Yadav, for the Respondent No. 3. Mr. A. S. More, PC – 62, Satara Taluka Police Station, is present. ------- CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J. DATE : 19th August, 2026. P.C. : 1. Heard Mr. Gautam Powar, learned Advocate for the Applicant, Mr. S. S. Chaudhari, learned APP for the Respondent – State and Mr. Pravinkumar Yadav, learned Advocate for the Respondent No. 3. 2. By this Application, the Applicant seeks pre-arrest bail in connection with Crime No. 370 of 2025 registered with the Satara Taluka Police Station, for offences punishable under Sections 69, 115(2), 351(2) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and under Sections 376, 504, and 506 of the I.P.C. Arjun 1 17-ABA-2499-2025.doc 3. The following orders passed in this Application would be relevant as reproduced: (a) Order dated 11.12.2025:- 1. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that physical relation between the applicant and victim was consensual..Investigation is completed and charge-sheet has been filed. 2. Learned APP on instructions submits that charge- sheet is 2. 3. Considering the submissions of the learned counsel for the applicant and learned APP, I pass following order: ORDER I. Till next date, in the event of arrest of applicant in C.R. No. 370 of 2025 registered with Satara Taluka Police Station, District: Satara, he be enlarged on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs. 15,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount. II. The applicant shall attend the concerned police station as and when required. 4. Applicant to add the first informant as party respondent. Amendment to be carried out forthwith. 5. After amendment is carried out, issue notice to the added respondent, returnable on 23rd December 2025. 6. Investigating Officer to inform the first informant about pendency of this application. (b) Order dated 17.01.2026:- 1. Not on board. Upon mentioning, taking on board. 2. The counsel for Applicant has moved this praecipe for extension of interim protection granted on 11th December 2025 by this Court in Anticipatory Bail Application. It was extended on 23rd December 2025 till 15th January 2026. As the regular Court is not available today and Anticipatory Bail Arjun 2 17-ABA-2499-2025.doc Application was expected to be listed today, but not listed, the interim protection granted on 11th December 2025 is continued till next date. 3. Stand over on 2nd February 2026. (c) Order dated 02.02.2026 :- 1. Applicant undertakes to surrender his cellphone and laptop for investigation purpose and cooperate in the investigation. 2. Applicant to attend the concerned police station from 5th February 2026 to 9th February 2026 between 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. 3. Stand over to 12th February 2026. 4. Interim relief, if any, to continue. (d) Order dated 10.06.2026 :- 1. Heard learned counsel for the Applicant, learned APP for the Respondent-State, and learned counsel appearing for Respondent No.3. 2. Learned counsel Mr. Pravinkumar B. Yadav appearing for Respondent No.3 has tendered an affidavit on record, inter alia, alleging that during the pendency of the interim order, the Applicant extended threats to the victim. Screenshots of the alleged threatening messages have also been placed on record along with the affidavit. 3. Learned counsel for the Applicant disputes the said allegations and submits that the Applicant has neither forwarded the alleged messages nor committed any breach of the conditions of the interim order. 4. Learned counsel for the Applicant seeks leave to file a counter affidavit to that effect on the next date of hearing. Leave granted. 5. However, taking into consideration, the apprehensions expressed by the victim girl and the screenshots placed on record, I am inclined to pass the following order :- ORDER Arjun 3 17-ABA-2499-2025.doc I. In addition to the conditions imposed by this Court vide order dated 11th December, 2025, the following conditions imposed:- A) The Applicant shall attend the Satara Taluka Police Station, Satara on every Friday and Saturday between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. until further orders. B) The Applicant shall not enter into the jurisdiction of Satara City Police Station until further orders of this Court, except for attending the dates as aforesaid. C) The Applicant shall not make any contact with the victim girl. D) A single violations of the additional conditions imposed by this Court today shall be taken note of seriously on the next date of hearing. E) Interim relief granted earlier vide order dated 11th December, 2025 to continue till the next date. 6. Stand over to 16th July, 2026. 4. Mr. Gautam Powar, learned Advocate for the Applicant states that Crime No. 370 of 2025 is now registered as Sessions Case No. 23 of 2026 and is pending before the Sessions Court, Satara (“Trial Court”). 5. Mr. Gautam Powar, learned Advocate for the Applicant, tenders Affidavit dated 16.07.2026, affirmed by the Applicant before the Notary Shivaji Tukaram Chougule. The same is taken on record and marked “X” for identification. He states that a copy of the same is furnished to Mr. S. S. Chaudhari, learned APP and Mr. Pravinkumar Yadav, learned Advocate for the Respondent No. 3. Arjun 4 17-ABA-2499-2025.doc 6. Mr. Gautam Powar, learned Advocate for the Applicant, has put forth the Applicant's standpoint in the Affidavit (X) and on specific instructions from the Applicant, states that the Applicant shall surrender his mobile handset along with SIM card No. 9226053787 to the Investigating Officer at the Satara Taluka Police Station by 21.08.2026. Mr. Gautam Powar, learned Advocate for the Applicant, requests that the Investigating Officer inquire into the WhatsApp message which Respondent No. 3 had placed before this Court on 10.06.2026. He further states that the Applicant has cooperated with the investigation in Crime No. 370 of 2025 and shall continue to cooperate with the investigation in the said crime. 7. Mr. S. S. Chaudhari learned APP for the Respondent – State , on instructions from the Investigating Officer, Satara Taluka Police Station, states that the Applicant has cooperated with the investigation in Crime No. 370 of 2025. Mr. S. S. Chaudhari states that in view of the apprehension expressed by the Respondent No. 3, as recorded in the order dated 10.06.2026, stringent conditions be imposed on the Applicant so that the apprehension in the mind of the Respondent No. 3 can be allayed. He submits that one condition this Court may consider imposing is that the Applicant shall not enter the jurisdiction of Satara City Police Station until the examination of Respondent No. 3 in Arjun 5 17-ABA-2499-2025.doc Sessions Case No. 23 of 2026. 8. Mr. Pravinkumar Yadav, learned Advocate for Respondent No. 3, states that the imposition of stringent conditions would allay the apprehension in the mind of Respondent No. 3. 9. Mr. Gautam Powar, learned Advocate for the Applicant, states that until the conclusion of the examination (oral testimony) of Respondent No. 3 before the Court in Sessions Case No. 23 of 2026, the Applicant shall not enter the jurisdiction of the Satara City Police Station. The statement made by Mr. Gautam Powar, learned Advocate for the Applicant, on instructions from the Applicant, is accepted. 10. In view of the above, this Application is allowed by confirming the order dated 10.06.2026 and making it absolute with the following additional conditions:- (a) The Applicant shall not enter the territorial jurisdiction of Satara City Police Station until the examination of Respondent No. 3 before the Trial Court in Sessions Case No. 23 of 2026, except to appear before the Trial Court as and when Sessions Case No. 23 of 2026 is fixed. Arjun 6 17-ABA-2499-2025.doc (b) Applicant shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to Respondent No. 3 or to any person /s acquainted with the facts of the case, to dissuade such person /s from disclosing those facts to the Court or any police officer. Applicant shall not tamper with evidence. (c) Applicant shall regularly appear before the Trial Court, in Sessions Case No. 23 of 2026, whenever the matter is fixed, unless specifically exempted. 11. Anticipatory Bail Application No. 2499 of 2025 is disposed of. (ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) Arjun 7 ARJUN KRISHNA RODGE Digitally signed by ARJUN KRISHNA RODGE Date: 2026.08.20 10:31:34 +0530