07 ABA 265.26.odt 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH AT NAGPUR CRIMINAL APPLICATION (ABA) NO.265/2026 Manjushri Shashank Butle Vs. State of Maharashtra thr. P.S.O. Police Station Awdhootwadi, Dist. Yavatmal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders or directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----- ------ Shri Y.K. Dhande, Advocate for applicant through VC. Shri H.D. Marathe, APP for non-applicant/State CORAM : PRAVIN S. PATIL, J. DATE : 02-07-2026. 1. Heard. 2. By this application, the applicant is seeking for grant of anticipatory bail in Crime No.922/2024 registered at Police Station Awdhootwadi, District Yavatmal on 13.08.2024 for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 406, 409, 417, 418, 421, 424, 467, 468, 471, 477A, 120B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999. 3. The case of the prosecution is that Babaji Date Mahila Sahakari Bank owing to irregularities and misdeeds in the working of Bank, Reserve Bank of India initiated action and bank was forced into liquidation. It was unveiled in the audit that serious instances of 2026:BHC-NAG:8346 07 ABA 265.26.odt 2 irregularities was noticed and thereby loss caused to Bank is around Rs.242 Crore. 4. Applicant herein states that she was initially appointed as a Clerk in the Bank on 29.05.1996, thereafter, she was promoted as Branch Manager and was serving with the Bank till 2022. During this term, she has rendered satisfactory service and implemented the decision of Board of Directors. According to her, she was not authorized to take any decision of sanctioning loan to member of Bank. She being innocent, is entitled for bail. 5. It is the submission of the applicant that, in her capacity as a Manager, she carried out her duties in accordance with the instructions issued by the Directors of the Bank and she is not involved in the alleged offence. It is further submitted that no specific role has been attributed to the applicant either in the First Information Report or in the audit report. Therefore, according to the applicant, considering the aforesaid prima facie material, she is entitled to the grant of anticipatory bail. 6. The applicant further pointed out that in the present matter the chargesheet is already filed and, therefore, considering this fact, the custodial interrogation of the applicant is not necessary in the matter. 07 ABA 265.26.odt 3 7. In addition to above, applicant has pointed out that this Court has granted interim protection by order dated 09.04.2026 and directed to co-operate with the investigation officer. Accordingly, she has extended her full cooperation to the investigating officer. The fact is also not denied by the learned APP in the matter. In view of this, applicant is entitled for anticipatory bail. Accordingly, following order is passed: ORDER i) The application is allowed. ii) In the event of arrest in Crime No.922/2024 registered at Police Station Awdhootwadi, District Yavatmal on 13.08.2024 for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 406, 409, 417, 418, 421, 424, 467, 468, 471, 477A, 120B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999, the Applicant – Manjushri Shashank Butle be released on bail on her executing PR Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount. iii) The Applicant shall attend concerned Police Station, as and when called by the investigation officer. iv) The investigating officer shall give one day prior notice to secure the attendance of the applicants. 07 ABA 265.26.odt 4 v) The Applicant shall, at the time of execution of bond, furnish her address and telephone/mobile number(s) to the Investigating Officer and the Court concerned, and shall not change the same till the final disposal of the case. vi) The Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any witness acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or any Police Officer. vii) The Applicant shall not obstruct or hamper the police investigation and not play mischief with the evidence collected or yet to be collected by the Investigating officer. 8. The application stands disposed of. (PRAVIN S. PATIL J.) Gulande