913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.1415 OF 2026 Anis Sultan Tandel …Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra & Anr. …Respondents Mr. Dinesh Adsule a/w Chinmay Bhole, for the Applicant. Mr. S. V. Walve, APP, for the Respondent-State. Mr. Mubin Solkar a/w Tahir Hussain, Anas Shaikh, Tahera Qureshi, Hemal Shah & Zahid Burud & Reyden Gonsalves i/b Eventa Gonsalves, for Respondent No.2-First Informant. API Sujit S. Gadade, Revdanda Police Station, District-Raigad, present. CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J. DATED: 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 PC:- 1. Heard Mr. Adsule, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant, Mr. Walve, learned APP, for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra and Mr. Solkar, learned Counsel appearing for Respondent No.2-First Informant. 2. By this Anticipatory Bail Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.64 of 2026 registered with Revdanda Police Station, District - Raigad, for the Page 1 Arjun ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Digitally signed by ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date: 2026.09.29 15:06:57 +0530 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC offences punishable under Sections 308(2), 308(5) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (“BNS”). 3. Mr. Adsule, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant, submits that a false FIR has been filed against the Applicant. He submits that huge land of about 231 acres has been purchased by one Taijun N. Hassonjee, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of R. T. Tricon Design & Build Contractors Private Limited. He submits that the said huge property is agricultural and forest land and is Government land and, therefore, as the Applicant is filing various complaints with the authorities, false FIR is lodged. He submits that as the Applicant has filed various proceedings including a Public Interest Litigation, a false FIR has been filed against him. He submits that that even three criminal antecedents which have been disclosed in the Anticipatory Bail Application are also false complaints and, therefore, in one CR being CR No.126 of 2017 the Applicant has been acquitted, in CR No.109 of 2018 the Applicant is not even an Accused and insofar as CR No.37 of 2019 is concerned, the District Court has granted stay. He, therefore, submits that anticipatory bail be granted. Page 2 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC 4. On the other hand, Mr. Walve, learned APP, for the Respondent-State, submits that this is a very serious case where false complaints/proceedings have been filed and thereafter for withdrawal of the said complaints/proceedings, huge amount of Rs.20 Crores was demanded. Out of which, Rs.18 Crores have been demanded from said R. T. Tricon Design & Build Contractors Private Limited and Rs.2 Crores have been demanded from the Original Owners, who have sold the land to said Taijun N. Hassonjee i.e. the Chairman and Managing Director of the said Company. He submits that insofar as the said threats and demand are concerned, material in form of a video is available. Learned APP tenders the transcript of the said conversation and submits that even the allegations have also been made against the Judges. He, therefore, submits that custodial interrogation is absolutely essential. 5. Mr. Solkar, learned Counsel appearing for Respondent No.2, supports the said contention. He submits that the offence has been registered under Sections 308(2) and 308(5) of BNS and reading of FIR clearly shows that the offence is made out. Page 3 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC 6. Before considering the rival contentions, it is necessary to set out the statement of the First Informant on the basis of which the FIR has been lodged. The said statement is as under: ßvkeps vkj- Vh- Vªk;dWku fM>kbZu vWUM fcYM dWkUVWªDVlZ izk- fy-] ;k daiuhps eq[; dk;kZy; lk[kj Hkou] ufjeu ikWbaZV] eqacbZ ;sFks vlwu daiuhps v/;{k rStqu gluth gs vkgsr- vkeph daiuh Lor%P;k ekyfdP;k egkjk”Vª jkT;kr vlysY;k fofo/k fBdk.kP;k izkWiVhZt fodlhr dj.;kps dke djrs- eh daiuhP;k ekyfdP;k fofo/k fBdk.kh vlysY;k izWkiVhZtP;k lqj{ksdjhrk useysY;k lqj{kkj{kd ;kaps dkekoj fu;a=.k o ns[kjs[k dj.;kps dke djrks- rlsp daiuhps v/;{k rStqu gluth gs eyk brj ts lkaxrhy rh dkes eh djhr vlrks- vkeps daiuhP;k ekyfdph ekSts ekaMyk- rk- eq#M] ft- jk;xM ;sFks xV ua-188/4] 188/6/1] 188/6/2 ¼tquk xV ua- 188@2@v½ v’kh tehu vlwu rsFks uksOgsacj 2021 iklwu daiuh tehu MsOgyihaxps dke djr vkgs- rsOgkiklwu lnj fBdk.kh lqj{ksdjhrk useysY;k lqj{kkj{kd ;kaps dkekoj fu;a=.k o ns[kjs[k dj.;kps dke eh djrks- rlsp daiuhps v/;{k rStqu gluth ;kauh eyk lnj izWkiVhZP;k vuq”kaxkus r;kj gks.kkjs LFkkuhd iz’u gkrkG.ks] rlsp LFkkuhd yksdkalkscrps fyxy fMLI;qV gkrkG.ks] rlsp lnj izkWiVhZP;k vuq”kaxkus daiuhP;korhus daiuhpk izfrfu/kh Eg.kwu ppsZr Hkkx ?ks.ks o R;kckcr daiuhps v/;{k fdaok brj ofj”Bkauk R;kph osGksosGh ekfgrh ns.ks bR;knh dkes eh djr vlrks- ekSts ekaMyk ;sFks daiuhP;k ekydhP;k lnj tehu MsOgyihaxps dke pkyw >kY;kuarj lq#okrhP;k dkGkiklwu ekaMyk ;sFkhy LFkkuhd jfgoklh vful lqyrku rkaMsy ;kus vkeP;k daiuhP;k fojks/kkr oufoHkkx LFkkuhd rykBh] eaMG vf/kdkjh] rglhynkj eq#M] izkar vf/kdkjh vfyckx rlsp ftYgkf/kdkjh vfyckx ;kaps dk;kZy;kr fofo/k dkj.ks nsowu rdzkjh vtZ dsysys gksrs- rks eyk ek>s eksckbZy ojrh dkWy d#u fofo/k fBdk.kh cksykowu ?ksowu R;kus dsysY;k lnj rdzkjh vtkZP;k dkWih eyk nk[kor vls o R;k rdzkjh ekxs ?ks.;klkBh ek÷;kdMs iS’kakph ekx.kh djr vls- lnjckcr eh vkeps daiuhps v/;{k rStqu gluth o brj ojh”Bkauk osGksosGh ekfgrh nsr gksrks- vful lqyrku rkaMsy ;kpsckcr eh LFkkuhd yksdkadMwu ekfgrh ?ksryh vlrk vful rkaMsy gk vktqcktqP;k ifjljkrhy yksdkaP;k tkxsP;k lanHkkZr fofo/k dk;kZy;kr rdzkjh d:u R;kapsdMqu iSls ?ksrks v’kh ekfgrh feGkyh R;keqGs R;kus vkeps daiuh fojks/kkr dsysY;k rdzkjh fojk/kkr vkEgh lacaf/kr dk;kZy;kr vkeps Eg.k.ks lknj dsysys gksrs o R;kus ek÷;kdMs dsysY;k ekx.;kadMs vkEgh nqyZ{k dsys gksrs] R;keqGs R;kus vkeps daiuhps v/;{k ;kaP;kfojks/kkr ls’ku dksVZ] vfyckx ;sFks ojhy tehu fg oufoHkkxkph vlwu rh csdk;ns’khjfjR;k [kjsnh dsysyh vkgs v’kk v’k;kph dsl dsysyh gksrh- lnj dslph lquko.kh gksowu fudky daiuhps v/;{k ;kaP;k cktwus ykxysyk vkgs- Page 4 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC R;kuarj R;kus R;kp fo”k;kP;kckcr gk;dksVZ] eqacbZ ;sFks vkeps daiuhps v/;{k rlsp ftYgkf/kdkjh] jk;xM rlsp brj ‘kklfd; vf/kdkjh ;kapsfojks/kkr jhVfifV’ku nk[ky dsyh gksrh] R;koj gk;dksVkZr lquko.kh >kyh vlrk rh jhVfifV’ku dksVkZus QsVkGwu ykoyh gksrh- R;kuarj R;kp fo”k;kP;k vuq”kaxkus vful lqyrku rkaMsy ;kus gk;dksVZ] eqacbZ ;sFks ih-vk;-,y~- nk[ky dsysyh vkgs vls eyk R;kus lk/kkj.k ,d efgU;kiqohZ Lor% Qksu d#u cksyhZ] rk- eq#M ;sFks cksykowu ?ksowu le{k lkaxhrys o lnjph gk;dksVZ] eqacbZ ;sFks nk[ky dsysY;k ih-vk;-,y~- ph dkWih nk[koyh vkf.k R;kuarj rks eyk Eg.kkyk dh] ih-vk;-,y~ ekxs ?;k;ph vlsy rj eyk iSls |k ukghrj eh rqeP;k daiuhph okV ykowu Vkdsu v’kh /kedh fnyh] rsOgk eh R;kyk lkaxhrys fd IkS’kkP;kckcr eyk vkeP;k daiuhP;k v/;{kka’kh cksykos ykxsy R;kuarjp eh rqyk dk; rs lkaxsu- vkeps daiuhP;k ofjy uewn izkWiVhZ e/;s tk.;klkBh daiuhus cuoysY;k jLR;ke/;s ckjekgh okgukjh unh vkMoh ;sr vlY;kus daiuhps yksd rlsp loZ XkzkeLFkkauk ;s.;ktk.;klkBh lks; Ogkoh ;kdfjrk lnj unhojrh czht cka/k.;klkBh vkEgh Xkzqqi xzkeiapk;r] ekaMyk ;sFkwu ukgjdr nk[kyk ?ks.;klkBh vtZ dsyk gksrk- lnj dkeklkBh ukgjdr nk[kyk ns.;kr ;sow u;s ;klkBh vful rkaMsy ;kus lnj xzkeiapk;rhdMs rdzkjh vtZ dsyk o lnj dkekr vMFkGk fuekZ.k dsyk- R;kuarj fMlsacj 2025 e/;s uDdh rkjh[k vkBor ukgh R;kus eyk dkWy d:u Lokxr gkWVsy] cksyhZ ;sFks cksykowu ?ksrys R;koGh ek>slkscr vkeps daiuhr dke dj.kkjk vdkaÅVaV yoys'k pkSohlk gk lq/nk gksrk rsOgk vful rkaMsy eyk cksyyk fd] eh LFkkuhd vkgs eyk vMhp yk[k :i;s |k ukghrj eh rqepk czht gksow ns.kkj ukgh- rjh i.k dke djk;yk xsykp rj eh rq>s gkrik; rksMwu dqBs QsdwUk nsbZu gs rqyk dG.kkj i.k ukgh v'kh /kedh fnyh- R;kosGh thokP;k Hkhrhus ?kkc:u xsyks o ekÖ;ktoG vlysys iapohl gtkj :i;s R;kP;k gkrkr fnys o jkfgysys iSls eh daiuhP;k v/;{kka'kh cksyY;k uarjp nsrks vls cksywu dlsrjh rsFkwu ek>h lqVdk d:u ?ksryh- R;kuarj R;kus fnukad 11-04-2026 jksth eyk Qksu d:u R;kps ekaMyk ;sFkhy ?kjh R;kus nk[ky dsysY;k ih-vk;-,Yk- P;kckcr ppkZ dj.;klkBh cksykowu ?ksrys R;keqGs R;k fno'kh nqikjh vankts ,d okt.;kps lqekjkl eh rlsp vkeps daiuhr dke dj.kkjk vdkaÅVaV yoys'k pkSohlk vls nks?ks vful rkaMsy ;kps ?kjh xsyks gksrks- R;kosGh R;kps ?kjkrhy gkWy e/;s vful rkaMsy ,dVkp clysyk gksrk- lq:okrhl fdjdksG ppkZ >kY;kuarj rks vkEgkyk Eg.kkyk fd] vk/kh rqEgh eyk czht ps iSls |k R;kosGh eh ?kkc:u ek>stoGps iapohl gtkj :i;s R;kP;k gkrkr fnys o R;kyk Eg.kkyks fd] vkrkps iapohl vkf.k ;kiqohZ fnysys iapohl vls IkUUkkl gtkj :i;s iksgkspys- rsOgk rks eyk Eg.kkyk fd jkfgysys nksu yk[k :i;s ;s.kkÚ;k vkB fnolkr eyk |k- R;kuarj vful rkaMsy eyk Eg.kkyk fd] rqeP;k fojks/kkr gk;dksVZ] eqacbZ ;sFks ih-vk;-,Yk~- nk[ky dsysyh vlqu rh ekxs ?;k;yk eh r;kj Page 5 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC vkgs ijarw R;kcnY;kr eyk rqEgh eyk vBjk djksM :i;s |k vkf.k rqEgh T;kaP;kdMwu rh tehu [kjsnh dsyh R;kapsdMwui.k nksu djksM :i;s rqEghp R;kapsdMwu ?ksowu eyk |k] vls Eg.kkyk- R;kuarj vkEgh ?kkc:u R;kP;k ?kjkrwu fu?kwu xsyks- vful rkaMsy ;kus ,dw.k ohl djksM nksu yk[k :i;kaph ekx.kh dsyh vlysckcr eh daiuhps v/;{k rlsp brj ofj"B ;kauk Qksu}kjs dGoys- R;kus dsysyh ohl djksM :i;kaph ekx.kh eksBh vlY;kus rlsp R;kus daiuhph okV ykorks v'kh /kedh fnY;kus vkEgh loZt.k ?kkc:u xsyks gksrks- lnjph ckreh fg vkeps daiuhr dke dj.kkjs Bsdsnkj] dkexkj ;kauk ns[khy letY;kus rs lq/nk ?kkc:u vkeps daiuhps lkbZVojrh dke djr vkgsr- vful rkaMsy ;kus vkepsdMs dsysY;k [kaM.khP;k ekx.kheqGs Hkhrhps okrkoj.k r;kj >kysys vlwu R;keqGs daiuhr dkekoj ;s.;klkBh dkexkj ?kkcjr vkgsr- rjh uksOgsacj 2021 rs fnukad 11-04-2026 jksth ;k dkGkr vful lqyrku rkaMsy ;kus eyk vMhp yk[k :i;s |k ukghrj eh rqepk czht gksow ns.kkj ukgh] rjh i.k dke djk;yk xsykp rj eh rq>s gkrik; rksMwu dqBs Qsdwu nsbZu gs rqyk dG.kkj i.k ukgh v'kh /kedh nsowu [kaM.khph ekx.kh d:u R;kiSdh iUukl gtkj :i;s fLodkjys rlsp vkeps daiuhP;k fojks/kkr gk;dksVZ] eqacbZ ;sFks R;kus nk[ky dsysyh ih-vk;-,y~- ekxs ?ks.;kP;k cnY;kr ,dw.k ohl djksM :i;kaph [kaM.kh ekxhryh vkf.k ih-vk;-,y~- ekxs ?;k;ph vlsy rj eyk iSls |k ukghrj eh rqeP;k daiuhph okV ykowu Vkdsu v'kh /kedh fnyh Eg.kwu R;kps fo:/n ek>h rdzkj vkgs- vful rkaMsy vkf.k ek>sr >kysys ojhy cksy.ks gs fganh Hkk"ksr >kysys vlwu eh ;sFks ejkBh Hkk"ksr lkaxhrys vkgs- fn-11/04/2026 jksth vful rkaMsy o vkeP;kr >kysY;k laHkk"k.kkph OghMhvks jsdkWMhZax ekÖ;kdMs vlqu rh eh lknj dj.kkj vkgs- lnjph rdzkj eh vkeps daiuhP;k ofj"Bka'kh ppkZ d:u vkt jksth iksyhl Bk.;kr rdzkj ns.;klkBh vkyks vkgs-Þ (Emphasis added) English translation of the same is as under: The Head Office of our R.T. Tricone Design & Build Contractors Private Limited Company is located at Sakhar Bhavan, Nariman Point, Mumbai and Taizun Hassonjee serves as the President of this Company. Our company works to develop properties owned by the owners of the Company at various places in the State of Maharashtra. I work to control and supervise the work of Page 6 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC security guards appointed for the security of the properties owned by the owners of the Company at various places. Similarly, I do other works as directed by the President of the Company by name Taizun Hassonjee. Our Company own a land bearing Gat Nos. 188/4, 188/6/1, 188/6/2 (Old Gat No. 188/2/A), situated at village Mandala, Taluka Murud, District Raigad and from the month of November, 2021, our Company is carrying out the development of the said land at the said place and since then, I work to control and supervise the work of security guards appointed for the security of the said place. Moreover, as directed by the President of the Company by name Taizun Hassonjee, I do other works such as, to deal with the local issues arising in respect of the said property, to handle the legal disputes arising with local public and also, to participate in the discussions in connection with the said property in the capacity of the representative of the Company on behalf of the Company and to give information regarding the same to the President or other Superior Authority from time to time, etc.. to give information of the same from time to time. Since the time, the development work of the said land has started in village Mandala, thereafter, from the beginning, Anis Sultan Tandel, resident of Mandala, had filed complaint applications against our Company in the Offices of the Forest Department, Local Talathi, the Circle Officer, the Tehsildar, Murud, the Sub Divisional Officer, Alibag and the Collector, Alibag on various grounds. He used to telephone me on my mobile, call me at various places and show me copies of the said complaint applications, which he had made and demand money from me to withdraw those complaints. Therefore, I used to inform the President of our Company by name Taizun Hassonjee and other Superior Authority in this regard, from time to time. When I enquired with the local people about Anis Sultan Tandel, I learned that Anis Sultan Tandel used to make complaints to various Offices regarding the land of the people in the surrounding area and extract money from them. Therefore, we had Page 7 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC submitted our say to the concerned Office against the complaints which he had made against our Company and we had ignored the demands he had made to me and therefore, he had filed a case against the President of our Company before the Hon’ble Sessions Court, Alibag, alleging therein that the aforesaid land belonged to the Forest Department and that the same had been purchased illegally. The trial of the said case has concluded and the decision was rendered in favor of the President of the Company. Thereafter, he had filed a Writ Petition on the same issue before the Hon’ble High Court, Mumbai against the President of our Company as well as the Collector, Raigad and other Government Officials and when the Petition came up for hearing before the Hon’ble High Court, the same was rejected by the Hon’ble Court. Thereafter, about a month ago, Anis Sultan Tandel himself telephoned and called me at Borli, Taluka Murud and he personally told me that he had filed a P.I.L. before the Hon’ble High Court, Mumbai in connection with the same issue and showed me a copy of the P.I.L. filed before the Hon’ble High Court, Mumbai and thereafter he threatened me by saying : “If you want to get the P.I.L. withdrawn, give me money, otherwise I will ruin your Company”. Thereupon, I told him : “I would have to talk to the President of our Company regarding the demand of money and only thereafter, I would inform you as to what has been decided”. As a perennial river crosses the access road constructed by our Company to reach the aforesaid property of our Company, we (our Company) had applied for a No- Objection Certificate from the Group Gram Panchayat, Mandala, to build a bridge over the river in order to facilitate the to and fro movement of Company staff as well as all the villagers. Anis Tandel filed a complaint application with the concerned Gram Panchayat to prevent the No-Objection Certificate from being issued for the said work and caused hindrance in the said work. Thereafter, in the month of December, 2025, I do not remember the exact date, he telephoned and called me at Swagat Hotel, Borli. At that time, our Accountant Page 8 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC Lavlesh Chauvisa, who worked in our Company, was accompanying me. At that time, Anis Tandel threatened me by saying : “I am a local resident and give me Rs. two and a half Lakhs, otherwise I will not let your bridge be built. However, even then if you try to start the work, I will cut off your limbs and throw them so far that you will not even realize as to where the same are thrown”. At that time, I got scared for my life and gave Rs. twenty- five thousands in his hands, which I had with me and said to him that I would give the remaining money only after talking to the President of the Company and somehow I got myself escaped from the said place. Thereafter, on the date 11.04.2026, he telephoned and called me at his house at Mandala to discuss regarding the P.I.L. which he had filed and therefore, on the said day, at about one o'clock in the afternoon, I along with our Accountant Lavlesh Chauvisa, who works in our Company, thus we both of us went to Anis Tandel's house. At that time, Anis Tandel was sitting alone in the hall of his house. After a small discussion at the beginning, he said to us : “At first, you give me the money for the bridge”. At that time, I got scared and gave him Rs. twenty-five thousands in his hands, which I had with me and told him, “Including the Rs. twenty-five thousands paid now and the Rs. twenty-five thousands which were paid earlier, thus you received total Rs. fifty thousands”. Thereupon, he told me to give him the remaining amount of Rs. two lakhs within the next eight days. Thereafter, Anis Tandel told me : “A P.I.L. has been filed against you before the Hon’ble High Court, Mumbai and I am ready to withdraw the same, but in lieu thereof, you give me Rs. eighteen crores and you yourself take Rs. two crores even from the people from whom you (the Company) bought the said land and give the same to me”. Thereafter, being scared, we left his house. Thereafter, I informed the President of the Company and other Superior Authority on phone call about Anis Tandel's demand for a total amount of Rs. twenty crores, Page 9 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC two lakhs. As, his demand for Rs. twenty crores was of huge amount and he had also threatened that he would ruin the Company, we all got scared. The said news has also reached the contractors and workers working in our Company and they are also working in fear at our Company's site. Ransom demand made by Anis Tandel to us has created an atmosphere of fear and therefore, the workers are afraid to come to work in the Company. Thus, during the period from November, 2021 to the date 11.04.2026, Anis Sultan Tandel, threatened me by saying : “Give me Rs. two and a half Lakhs, otherwise I will not let your bridge be built. However, if you try to start the work, I will cut off your limbs and throw them so far that you will not even realize as to where the same are thrown” and demanded ransom and extracted Rs. fifty thousands from me. Moreover, he demanded a total ransom of Rs. twenty crores for withdrawing the P.I.L. filed against our Company before the Hon’ble High Court, Mumbai and further threatened by saying : “If you want to get the P.I.L. withdrawn, give me the money, otherwise I will ruin your Company” and therefore, I have a complaint against him. The aforesaid conversation between Anis Tandel and me took place in Hindi and I have stated the same here in Marathi. I have with me the video recording of the conversation which took place between Anis Tandel and me, on the date 11/04/2026 and I am going to produce the same. I have discussed regarding the said complaint with the Superior Authority of our Company and thereafter, today, I came in the Police Station to lodge this complaint. (Emphasis added) 7. Thus, as per the prosecution case, the Applicant has filed complaints with various authorities including with the Forest Department, Talathi, Circle Officer, Tahsildar, Prant Officer as well Page 10 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC as Collector. The Applicant has also filed the proceedings in the Sessions Court as well as various proceedings including a PIL in the High Court. The allegation is that for withdrawal of all these complain/proceedings and PIL, total amount demanded is Rs.20 Crores. The FIR records that he has demanded Rs.18 Crores from the said Company or the purchaser and Rs.2 Crores from the Original Owners, who have sold the land to Taijun N. Hassonjee i.e. the Chairman and Managing Director of the said Company. 8. It is significant to note that in the FIR itself it is specifically stated that the conversation between the First Informant and the Applicant is recorded on video. The transcript of the same which is produced before this Court, prima facie, supports the prosecution case where there is a demand of Rs.20 Crores inter alia for withdrawal of PIL. In fact, the allegations are also made against the Judges. The offence is very serious. Threats are also given of assault if the said payment is not made. Thus, this is a case where custodial interrogation is absolutely essential. 9. The Supreme Court in the decision of State Rep. by the C.B.I. v. Anil Sharma 1, has held that the custodial interrogation is 1 (1997) 7 SCC 187 Page 11 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC qualitatively more elicitation-oriented than questioning a suspect who is well ensconced with a favourable order under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 i.e. Section 482 of BNSS. The effective interrogation of suspected person is of tremendous advantage in disinterring many useful information and also materials which would have been concealed. Success of such interrogation would elude if the suspected person knows that he is well protected and insulted by a pre-arrest bail during the time he interrogated. The said observations of the Supreme Court are squarely applicable to the present case. Thus, for effective interrogation in this serious case, custodial interrogation is necessary. 10. As stated above, the offence is very serious of extortion of huge amount of Rs.20 Crores as well as the allegations have been made against the Judges. 11. It is required to be noted that although it is the contention of the Applicant that insofar as CR No.126 of 2017 is concerned, where the allegations are of the same nature that complaints have been filed with the Circle Officer and Talathi and for withdrawal of the same Rs.50,000/- has been demanded from the First Informant Page 12 Arjun 913-ABA-1415-2026.DOC in said CR, Mr. Adsule, learned Counsel for the Applicant has very heavily relied on the Judgment and Order dated 1st June 2023 passed by the learned JMFC, Murud in Regular Criminal Case No.122 of 2018 concerning said crime. However, perusal of the said Order dated 1st June 2023, shows that the First Informant in that case i.e. PW-1 has been declared as hostile and during cross- examination conducted by the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor, said PW-1 admitted that the dispute is settled between the Applicant and him outside the Court. Thus, the said decision in fact shows that the acquittal is not clear acquittal and, therefore, not relevant. 12. In any case, the offence is very serious. There is strong prima facie material against the Applicant. Accordingly, no case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. The Anticipatory Bail Application is rejected. 13. It is clarified that the Trial Court shall decide the case on its merits, uninfluenced by the prima facie observations made in this Order. [MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.] Page 13 Arjun