908-BA-727-2026.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 727 OF 2026 Shriniwas Dnyaneshwar Lone ...Applicant Versus. State of Maharashtra and Anr. ...Respondents ------- Mr. Kuldeep Nikam a/w Onkar Bajaj, Advocate for the Applicant. Dr. A. A. Takalkar, APP for the Respondent – State. Mr. Nitin Bhosale, Lonand Police Station, is present. ------- CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J. DATE : 8th October, 2026. P.C. : 1. Heard, Mr. Kuldeep Nikam, learned Advocate for the Applicant and Dr. A. A. Takalkar, learned APP for the Respondent – State. 2. By the present Application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicant seeks regular bail in connection with C.R. No. 65 of 2026, registered at Lonand Police Station, for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 61(2), 140(1), 238 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 3. Mr. Kuldeep Nikam, learned Advocate for the Applicant, states that there are four (4) accused in C.R. No. 65 of 2026, Applicant being Accused No. four (4). Arjun 1 908-BA-727-2026.doc 4. The prosecution case is that the accused in C.R. No. 65 of 2026 took Somnath Bobade (deceased) from Kalamboli, Mumbai and murdered him in a moving car by tying a rope around his neck. 5. The Applicant was arrested on 10.02.2026. Regular Bail Application No. 105 of 2026, filed by the Applicant, was rejected by the Additional Sessions Judge, Wai (“Trial Court”), vide order dated 15.07.2026. 6. Mr. Kuldeep Nikam, learned Advocate for the Applicant, submits that the Applicant is not involved in the Crime No. 65 of 2026. Referring to the material placed on record in this Application, he submits that the Applicant has been implicated as an accused in Crime No. 65 of 2026 solely on the basis of the statement of the co-accused, i.e. Bandu Bhise, who is Accused No. 1 in the said crime. He further submits that apart from the said statement, no other material on record indicates the Applicant's involvement in the present crime. 7. Dr. A. A. Takalkar, learned APP for the Respondent – State, submits that although the Applicant has been implicated on the basis of a statement of a co-accused, a CDR on record indicates that the Applicant was in communication with the other co-accused. Arjun 2 908-BA-727-2026.doc 8. Perused the records with the assistance of the learned Advocates for the parties. 9. The prosecution case is based on circumstantial evidence. 10. As submitted by Mr. Kuldeep Nikam, learned Advocate for the Applicant and not contested by Dr. A. A. Takalkar, learned APP, the Applicant's involvement in Crime No. 65 of 2026 is based on the statement made by accused no. 1 ( Bandu Bhise), made while in police custody. Apart from that statement, no other material on record indicates the Applicant's complicity in Crime No. 65 of 2026. 11. The Applicant has been in jail since 10.02.2026. 12. Considering the aforesaid circumstances and the Applicant having no criminal antecedents, as submitted by Mr. Kuldeep Nikam, learned Advocate for the Applicant, the continuation of the Applicant in jail pending trial is not warranted. 13. This application is therefore allowed on the following terms :- (a) Applicant is directed to be released on Bail in connection with C.R. No. 65 of 2026, registered Arjun 3 908-BA-727-2026.doc with Lonand Police Station, upon furnishing a P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only) with one or two sureties, in the like amount, to the satisfaction of the Additional Sessions Judge, Wai. (b) Applicant shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case to dissuade that person from disclosing the facts to the Court or any police officer. Applicant shall not tamper with evidence. (c) Applicant shall, within three (3) days of his release from jail, provide to the Investigating Officer, Lonand Police Station, his residential address with proof, the contact numbers and must inform the Investigating Officer about the change in the same from time to time. (d) Applicant shall report to the Investigating Officer, Lonand Police Station, on the 2nd Monday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 am, till the framing of charge in crime No. 65 of 2026. Arjun 4 908-BA-727-2026.doc (e) Applicant shall regularly appear before the Trial Court, as and when the matter is fixed, unless specifically exempted. (f) In the event of any default in complying with the conditions or misuse of the liberty granted to the Applicant, the prosecution shall be at liberty to seek cancellation of bail. 14. The observations made in this order are prima facie for deciding the Bail Application and will not affect the trial proceedings. 15. Bail Application No. 727 of 2026 is disposed of. (ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) Arjun 5 ARJUN KRISHNA RODGE Digitally signed by ARJUN KRISHNA RODGE Date: 2026.10.08 21:11:13 +0530