41. BA 672-2026.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 672 OF 2026 Ravikant Bhanudas Gaikwad .Applicant Vs. The State of Maharashtra .Respondent Mr. Aniket Vagal a/w. Ms. Savvy Kolhekar & Ms. Juhi Kadu, Advocates, for the Applicant Ms. Anuja S. Gotad, APP, for the Respondent – State CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J. DATE : 05.10.2026 P. C. 1. Heard Mr. Vagal, learned Counsel for the Applicant and Ms. Gotad, learned APP for the Respondent – State. 2. This Application is filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) and under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short “CRPC”) in connection with C.R.No.160 of 2024 registered with Talegaon MIDC Police Station, Pune for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 105, 238, 90, 3(5) & 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNS”). 3. The Applicant is arraigned as Accused No. 2 in the present crime. He has been indicted in this offence on the confessional statement of Anand 1 of 5 ANAND SUDHAKAR SUDAME Digitally signed by ANAND SUDHAKAR SUDAME Date: 2026.10.07 16:13:33 +0530 41. BA 672-2026.doc the Accused No. 1 briefly stated there are five Accused persons, who are indicted of having murdered the victim. There are three victims in the present case. The victim No. 1 appears to be the mother of victim Nos. 2 & 3, who are her minor children. The case of the prosecution against the Accused persons is that Accused No. 1 – Gajendra was in a relationship with victim No. 1 and according to the prosecution case, Accused No. 1 with the aid and assistance of the other four Accused persons has killed the three victims and disposed of their bodies. How the disposal of the bodies has been done by Accused No. 1 is not clear but on a confessional statement being recorded the case of the prosecution is that he has dumped their bodies into the river and the bodies have not been found till date. The other three Accused persons namely Accused Nos. 3, 4 & 5 have already been enlarged on bail by this Court. 4. It is argued by Ms. Gotad vehemently that the role of these three Accused persons, who have been enlarged on bail is completely different than that of Accused Nos. 1 and 2. The entire case of the prosecution is based on confessional statement of Accused No. 1. Insofar as Accused No. 2 is concerned, his name has been reflected in the second supplementary statement recorded by the prosecution of the Accused No. 1, where he has stated that Accused No. 2 was Anand 2 of 5 41. BA 672-2026.doc accompanying Accused No. 1 in the commission of the crime in question. Save and except the aforesaid confessional statement, there is no other material placed on record by the prosecution. Motive for Accused No. 2 namely the Applicant before me is also not established. Considering the fact that it is the prosecution case that it was Accused No. 1, who was in a relationship with victim No. 1 and therefore, he may have the motive to commit the crime in question. The Applicant is arrested on 22.07.2024 and he is incarcerated for the past more than two years and two months. Considering parity and case of the prosecution, I am inclined to consider the Applicant’s case for grant of bail. 5. Hence, in view of above prima facie observations and finding, Bail Application of Applicant is allowed subject to the following terms and conditions:- (i) Applicant – Ravikant Bhanudas Gaikwad is directed to be immediately released from prison in connection with CR. No. 160 of 2024; (ii) Applicant is directed to be released on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rs. Twenty Five Thousand only) with one or two sureties of the like amount; (iii) Applicant shall report to the Investigating Officer at Anand 3 of 5 41. BA 672-2026.doc Talegaon MIDC Police Station, Pune, once every month, on the first Monday of the month between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. until commencement of trial and thereafter shall attend all dates of hearing before the Trial Court; (iv) Applicant shall co-operate with the conduct of the trial and remain present before the Trial Court on all dates, unless specifically exempted. Applicant shall not seek unnecessary adjournments. Any such conduct shall entitle the prosecution to apply for cancellation of bail; (v) Applicant shall not leave the State of Maharashtra without prior permission of the Trial Court; (vi) Applicant shall not influence any of the witnesses or tamper with the evidence in any manner; (vii) Applicant shall keep the Investigating Officer informed of his current residential address and mobile telephone number and shall forthwith inform the Investigating Officer of any change in his residential address or mobile telephone number, as and when such change occurs; and (viii)Any breach or infraction of any of the aforesaid Anand 4 of 5 41. BA 672-2026.doc conditions shall entail cancellation of the bail granted to the Applicant. 6. It is clarified that the observations made in this order are limited for the purpose of granting bail only and I have not made any observations on merits of the case. The trial shall be adjudicated on the strength of the evidence led and strictly on its own merits being uninfluenced with any of the prima facie observations made hereinabove in this order. 7. Bail Application is allowed and disposed in the above terms. (MILIND N. JADHAV, J.) Anand 5 of 5