02-ABA-1828-2025.DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.1828 OF 2025 Ashwajit Anand Bagade …Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra …Respondent WITH ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.3131 OF 2025 Kishor Mohan Karade …Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra …Respondent Mr. Shailesh S. Kharat, for the Applicant in ABA/1828/2025. Ms. S. M. Yadav, APP, for the Respondent-State. API Yogita Kudale, Cyber Police Station, Pune City, present. CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J. DATED: 17 AUGUST 2026 PC:- 1. None appears for the Applicant in Anticipatory Bail Application No.3131 of 2025. 2. Heard Mr. Kharat, learned Counsel appears for the Applicant-Ashwajit Anand Bagade and Ms. Yadav, learned APP, for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra. Page 1 Arjun ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Digitally signed by ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date: 2026.08.21 20:48:18 +0530 02-ABA-1828-2025.DOC 3. In both these Anticipatory Bail Applications filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 / Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicants are seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.819 of 2024 registered with the Cyber Police Station, Pune City, for the offences punishable under Sections 319(2), 318(4), 316(5) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000. 4. Mr. Kharat, learned Counsel for the Applicant, points out the Order dated 7th July 2025 passed by a learned Single Judge in Anticipatory Bail Application No.1828 of 2025. The said Order reads as under: “The learned Counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is a student pursuing Civil Engineering at PG College of Engineering, Pune. Initially, the FIR in the present case was registered against unknown persons. The applicant's name was not mentioned at the inception of the investigation but only came to light for the first time in the remand report dated 8 December 2024. The learned Counsel submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated solely on account of certain minor and unrelated financial transactions with the co- accused, Savio, who happens to be a childhood acquaintance. These transactions were of a negligible amount, innocuous in nature, and bear no nexus with the commission of the alleged offence. Furthermore, it is Page 2 Arjun 02-ABA-1828-2025.DOC brought to the attention of this Court that the main accused, Savio, has already been granted regular bail in March 2025. The investigation pertaining to the present crime has been concluded, and no new material has surfaced that would implicate the applicant in any direct manner. The learned Counsel also emphasises that there exists no direct transaction between the applicant and the informant, nor has the applicant derived any benefit from the alleged financial dealings. In light of this, he argues that the essential ingredients necessary to constitute offences under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC are not made out against the applicant. Moreover, all relevant documentary evidence is already in the possession of the investigating agency, and none of it points toward the applicant’s involvement. Nonetheless, the applicant is ready to and willing to attend the police station as and when required and to assist the investigating officer in dispelling any doubts. The applicant further undertakes to furnish his bank account details to the investigating agency and is ready to voluntarily surrender his mobile phone. 2. By consent, stand over to 5 August 2025. 3. In the meantime, the applicant is directed to appear before the investigating officer on 9th, 10th and 11th July 2025, between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. and provide all requisite bank account details, surrender the mobile phone and cooperate with the investigation. There shall not be any coercive action against the applicant in the present crime till the next date.” 5. Mr. Kharat, learned Counsel for the Applicant, states that, insofar as the Applicant-Ashwajit Anand Bagade is concerned, the aggregate amount which has come into his account is only Rs.25,000/-, whereas the amount involved in the offence is Rs.25,00,000/-. Insofar as the amount which has come into the Page 3 Arjun 02-ABA-1828-2025.DOC account of Accused No.6-Kishor Mohan Karade is concerned, the said amount is Rs.1,47,600/-. 6. Ms. Yadav, learned APP, submits that the offence is very serious and, therefore, the Anticipatory Bail Application be rejected. 7. However, perusal of the record shows that the main allegations are against Accused No.1. Accused Nos.1 to 4 have been arrested and released on regular bail. As far as the Applicant - Ashwajit Anand Bagade (Accused No.5) is concerned, he has been protected by a learned Single Judge by Order dated 7th July 2025 and the said protection continues till date. 8. The Applicant-Kishor Mohan Karade (Accused No.6) is also protected by the Order dated 17th January 2026 passed by this Court. The Charge-sheet has already been filed. 9. There are not criminal antecedents against the Applicants. Page 4 Arjun 02-ABA-1828-2025.DOC 10. Thus, in the facts and circumstances, case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. In view thereof, the following Order is passed: O R D E R (a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant-Ashwajit Anand Bagade (Anticipatory Bail Application No.1828 of 2025) and the Applicant-Kishor Mohan Karade (Anticipatory Bail Application No.3131 of 2025) in connection with CR No.819 of 2024 registered with Cyber Police Station, Pune City, the Applicants are directed to be released on bail on their furnishing PR Bond in the sum of Rs.30,000/- each with one or two solvent sureties each in the like amount. (b) The Applicants shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when called by the Investigating Officer. (c) The Applicants shall furnish their cell phone numbers and residential addresses to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated, in case of any Page 5 Arjun 02-ABA-1828-2025.DOC change thereto. (d) The Applicants shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade such a person from disclosing the facts to the Court or to any Police personnel. (e) The Applicants shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant or any witness in any manner. 11. The Anticipatory Bail Applications are disposed of accordingly. [MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.] Page 6 Arjun