936-ABA-2661-2026.odt Harish IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2661 OF 2026 Siddharth Narendra Banthia ...Applicant V/S. State Of Maharashtra And Ors. ...Respondents _____________________________________________________________ Adv. Ashok Varma a/w Vinit Jain, Gaurav Mhatre, for the Applicant. Adv. Megha S. Bajoria, APP for the Respondent – State. _________________________________________________________ CORAM : PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J. DATE : 08TH OCTOBER, 2026. P.C. :- 1. Heard learned counsel for the applicant as well as learned APP for the respondents-state. 2. The applicant has filed the instant application for seeking transit anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No. 464 of 2026 dated 02.09.2026, registered with Jaora Industrial Area Police Station Ratlam, State of Madhya Pradesh, for the offence punishable under Section 316(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that although the offence is registered against this applicant on 03rd October, 2026, the applicant is served with a notice dated 02.10.2026 under Section 179 of BNSS. He submits that in view of this, the applicant is ready to extend 1/3 936-ABA-2661-2026.odt cooperation by visiting the concerned police station. He also submits that the offence alleged is punishable up to five years and the applicant is ready to join the investigation. 4. Learned APP for the respondents submits that the offence is registered against the applicant and earlier he has not extended cooperation. She also submits that the applicant ought to have approached to the concerned Sessions Court within the jurisdiction of which the offence is registered. She submits that the Investigating Officer had attended the Court on 07.10.2026 and has given his say dated 19.09.2026, which is tendered across the bar. The same is taken on record and marked as document “X” for identification purposes. 5. It has to be noted that although the offence is registered against this applicant, the Investigating Officer has served upon him a notice under Section 179 of BNSS. The applicant has categorically stated that he is ready to extend cooperation in response to the said notice. Considering the nature of offence under Section 316(2) of BNS, which is punishable up to five years, the applicant needs to be permitted to join the investigation and attend the police station. 6. Accordingly, considering the fact that the applicant is seeking transit anticipatory bail for limited period to enable him to approach the competent court at Jaora Industrial Area Police Station Ratlam, State of Madhya Pradesh, the instant application needs to be allowed. 7. Hence I pass the following order. 2/3 936-ABA-2661-2026.odt : ORDER : i. In the event of arrest of applicant in connection with Crime No. 464 of 2026 dated 02.09.2026, registered with Jaora Industrial Area Police Station Ratlam, State of Madhya Pradesh, for the offence punishable under Section 316(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the applicant be released on bail on furnishing P.R. bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one solvent surety of like amount. ii. It is directed that this protection from arrest is granted for a period of four weeks from today, for enabling him to approach the concerned Sessions Court for seeking appropriate orders. 8. It is clarified that this court has not expressed any observations on the merits of the case and in case the applicant submits any application under section 482 of BNSS, the same be decided by competent court on its own merits. 9. The application is accordingly allowed and disposed of. (PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.) 3/3