Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.1627 OF 2025 Uday Vishnu Panchabhai …Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra …Respondent Mr. Satyajeet P. Dighe a/w Abhijeet Khade, for the Applicant. Mrs. M. M. Deshmukh, APP, for the Respondent-State.
CORAM:
MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.
DATED :
12th OCTOBER 2026 PC:-
1. Heard Mr. Dighe, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant and Ms. Deshmukh, learned APP appearing for the Respondent-State. 2. By the present Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (“BNSS”), the Applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with C.R. No.164 of 2025 registered with Nashik Road Police Station, Nashik City, for the offences punishable under Sections 316(5), 318(4), 336(3), 338 and 340(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (“BNS”). Page 1
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3. It is the submission of the learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant that the Applicant is not involved in the crime. He further submits that the Applicant is working as Account Officer in the office of Deputy Director of Education, Nashik Division, Nashik and he has acted as per the directions of Mr. Bhausaheb Bhikanrao Chavan, the then Deputy Director of Education, Nashik Division, Nashik. He submits that the Applicant has no power to grant approval for grant of Shalarth ID or include names of Teaching/Non-teaching staff in Shalarth ID Pranali. He submits that he has no independent authority or discretion to upload the names of various teaching and non-teaching staff in the said Shalarth ID Pranali and it has been done as per the directions of Mr. Bhausaheb Bhikanrao Chavan, the then Deputy Director of Education, Nashik Division, Nashik. 4. On the other hand, learned APP, submits that the offence is very serious where teaching and non-teaching staff who have been appointed in the year 2022-2024 have been shown to be working since the year 2012 and their names are included in the Shalarth ID Pranali and accordingly arrears of salaries have been paid to Page 2
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde them. She, therefore, submits that the anticipatory bail be not granted. 5. Before considering the Anticipatory Bail Application of the present Applicant on merits it is required to be noted that, said C.R. No.164 of 2025 has been registered by one Mr.Bhausaheb B. Chavan in his capacity as Deputy Director of Education. However, during investigation it was found that said Bhausaheb B. Chavan is also involved in the crime.
In this background it is required to be noted that this Court by order dated 05th October 2026 passed in Anticipatory Bail No.3499 of 2025 has rejected the Anticipatory Bail Application filed by Mr. Bhausaheb B. Chavan. This Court in Paragraph Nos.5 to 15 has recorded certain factual aspects and reasons for rejection of the Anticipatory Application of said Applicant - Mr. Bhausaheb B. Chavan & recorded satisfaction that, prima facie said Bhausaheb B. Chavan is involved in the crime. The said paragraph Nos.5 to 15, reads as under :-
“5. Perusal of the record shows that complaint dated 28th March 2024 (Pages 45-47 of ABA) has been filed by one Ramkrushna Abhiman Patil with Minister of Education, Page 3
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde Maharashtra State making very serious allegations regarding individual approvals and inclusion of names in orders of Shalarth ID Pranali of Teaching/Non-Teaching staff by showing their backdated appointments and it is stated that there is as racket wherein Chairmans of various schools are involved. 6. In view of the said complaint, the Director of Education has directed the present Applicant in his capacity as Deputy Director of Education to make enquiry and submit the report. Accordingly, initially, the Applicant submitted a report dated 24th June 2023 (Pages 51-60) proposing to cancel the appointments of various teaching/non-teaching staff members who are working in various schools by giving personal hearing to these teaching/non-teaching staff members. The said order was challenged by filing Writ Petition No.9008 of 2024 (Aurangabad Bench) and the Applicant in his capacity as Deputy Director of Education, Nashik Division, Nashik has filed affidavit in reply dated 26th February 2025 (Pages 63-69) stating that after giving notice and personal hearing to all Page 4
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde concerned only in case of fraud, suppression or mis- representation, the appointments would be cancelled. 7.
Thereafter, the Applicant filed another report dated 25th February 2025 (Pages 17-23 of Applicant’s compilation) and in said report, it is recommended to lodge the F.I.R. and the Commissioner of Education by order/letter dated 22nd March 2025 (Page 71 of Anticipatory Bail Application), the Commissioner of Education has given permission for registration of the offence and accordingly, the subject F.I.R. being C.R. No. 164 of 2025 has been registered on 27th March 2025 by the Applicant in his capacity as Deputy Director of Education. 8. Mr. Gupte, learned Senior Counsel has very heavily relied on following paragraphs of said Enquiry Report dated 25th February 2025 :
"९. शिक्षण उपसंचालक कार्याालर्या र्याेथे दिनांक 10/07/2023 रोजी ची कार्याालर्याीन दि"पणी ची प्रत शिक्षण उपसंचालक कार्याालर्याातील लेखाधि'कारी वर्ग - 2 श्री उर्या पंचभाई दिनांक 10 सार्या 2023 रोजी लेखा अधि'कारी म्हणून हजर झालेत. शिक्षण उपसंचालक र्याांनी मान्र्याता दिलेले ालाथ आर्याडी चे ड्राफ्" भरण्र्यााचे काम करण्र्याासाठी त्र्याांच्र्यााकडे रीतसर लॉदिर्गन Page 5
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde आर्याडी आशिण पासवड सुपू करण्र्याात आला होता. ड्राफ्" भरत असताना नवीन पोस्" दि@ए" करू नर्याे व अशिभलेख पडताळूनच ड्राफ्" भरावेत असे रीतसर नो"ींर्ग "ाकू न दिनांक 10.07.2023 रोजी त्र्याांना सूचना ेण्र्याात आल्र्याा होत्र्याा व त्र्याांना कामकाज करण्र्याासंभात आेशित करण्र्याात आले होते. र्याापूवF शिक्षण उपसंचालक कार्याालर्याातील लेखाधि'कारी र्याा पावर श्री मनीष ालिलग्राम कम हे कार्यारत होते व ालाथ आर्याडीचे ड्राफ्" भरण्र्यााचे काम त्र्याांच्र्यााकडे सुपू करण्र्याात आले होते. त्र्याांची बली झाल्र्यााने आपोआपच श्री. उर्या पंचभाई लेखाधि'कारी कार्याालर्या र्याांच्र्यााकडे सर जबाबारी ेण्र्याात आली होती. खालील ाळेतील 49 कमचाऱ्र्याांचे ड्राफ्" हे लेखाधि'कारी र्याांनी कोणतेही कार्गपत्र उपलब्' नसताना भरले असल्र्यााचे सांदिर्गतले आहेत. र्याा दिवदिव' ाळांच्र्याा 49 कमचाऱ्र्याांचे ड्राफ्" हे लेखाधि'कारी उर्या पंचभाई र्याांनी कोणतीही कार्यावाही न करता किंकवा कोणत्र्यााही कार्गपत्राची पडताळणी न करता संस्थेला व ाळेला मत करण्र्यााच्र्याा हेतूने ड्राफ्" भरले असल्र्यााचे दिनष्पन्न झाले आहे. तसे त्र्याांनी लेखी कबुलीही के ले आहे व प्रस्तुत कार्याालर्याात असा पंचनामा तर्याार करण्र्याात आला आहे.”
"प. पू. मा'व साशिव र्गोळवलकर र्गुरुजी सावजदिनक संस्था कु हा काकोडा तालुका मुक्ताईनर्गर संचलिलत कै .
अोक फडके माध्र्यादिमक व उच्च माध्र्यादिमक दिवद्यालर्या कु न्हा काकोडा ता. मुक्ताईनर्गर जिजल्हा जळर्गाव र्याा ाळेच्र्याा शिक्षकांची डुप्लि]लके " श्री उर्या पंचभाई र्याांनी
"ाकले असल्र्यााचे क्र्याता आहेत. उपरोक्त ाळेने कोणतेही ाळाथ आर्याडीच्र्याा मान्र्यातेच्र्याा संभात प्रस्ताव माध्र्यादिमक कार्याासनाकडे प्राप्त झालेले नाही त्र्याामुळे त्र्याावर कार्यावाहीचा प्रश्न दिनमाण होत नाही. र्यााचाच अथ प्रस्तुत कार्याालर्याामाफ त ाळाथ आर्याडी न ेताच सर कमचाऱ्र्याांचे डुप्लि]लके " ही ाळाथ प्रणालीमध्र्याे समादिवष्ट करण्र्याात आले होते हे स्पष्ट होते. सर डुप्लि]लके " हे मी माझ्र्याा स्तरावरून "ाकले नाहीत असे उर्या पंचभाई र्याांनी लेखी नमू के लेली आहेत परंतु लॉदिर्गन Page 6
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde आर्याडी आशिण पासवड ही उर्या पंचभाई र्याांच्र्यााकडे असल्र्याामुळे त्र्याांच्र्याा स्तरावरूनच सर कारवाई झाली असण्र्यााची क्र्याता आहे. त्र्याामुळे त्र्याास श्री उर्या पंचभाई व ज्र्याांनी डुप्लि]लके " स्वीकारले ते श्री मा हे ोन्ही अधि'कारी जबाबार आहेत. त्र्याांनी ासनाचे आर्थिथक नुकसान के ले आहे. सर ाळाथ आर्याडीचे डुप्लि]लके " अजूनही र्यााव्र्याधितरिरक्त व्र्याक्ती श्री उर्या पंचभाई र्याांनी भरले असल्र्यााची व श्री मा र्याांनी स्वीकारले असल्र्यााची क्र्याता आहे. प्रस्तुत प्रकरणाची व्र्यााप्ती अजूनही अधि'कची असू कते व र्याामध्र्याे आणखी काही कमचाऱ्र्याांचा सहभार्ग असण्र्यााची क्र्याता आहे. त्र्याामुळे प्रस्तुत प्रकरणाचा सार्याबर माफ त तपास करण्र्याात र्याावा व र्गुन्ह्याचा छडा लावण्र्याात र्याावा जी अधि'कारी ोषी दिसतात त्र्याांच्र्याादिवरुद्ध फौजारी र्गुन्हा ाखल करण्र्यााचे फौजारी स्वरूपाची कारवाई करण्र्यााची र्गुन्हा ाखल ाखल करण्र्याात र्याावा, अी शिफारस करण्र्याात र्याेत आहे.” Thus, the said Enquiry Report specifically records that said Uday Vishnu Panchbhai and Manish Sharma are responsible for the fraud. 9. The said Enquiry Report has been signed by the present Applicant in his capacity as Deputy Director of Education and by one Jitendrakumar Gade, Junior Administrative Officer and Shekhar Patil, Chief Clerk of Higher Secondary Department of the Office of Deputy Director of Education. Page 7
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10. It is relevant to note that said Jitendrakumar Gade, in his statement recorded during the investigation has stated that the said Enquiry Report has been prepared by the Applicant and they have only signed the said report as per the direction of the Applicant. 11. Although, it is submitted by Mr.
Gupte, learned Senior Counsel that the Shalarth IDs drafts are prepared by said Uday Vishnu Panchbai, who has been appointed as Accounts Officer after transfer of earlier Accounts Officer- Manish Shaligram Kadam, however, statement of said Manish Shaligram Kadam has been recorded stating that as far as 14 teaching/non- teaching staff of Late Ashok Phdake Madhyamik and Uccha Madhyamik Vidyalaya, the same were added in the Shalarth Pranali when he was working as Accounts Officer. He has stated that the Applicant used to open file on Applicant’s laptop by using login-id and password to open Shalarth Pranali and instructed him to fill the Shalarth Drafts and accordingly, drafts of Shalarth IDs are prepared by him as per the instructions of the Applicant and these 14 staff teaching/non-teaching members have been included in the Shalarth ID Pranali by the Applicant. The following extract of Page 8
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde statement of Manish Shaligram Kadam dated 3rd December 2025 recorded during investigation is relevant :
"
तसेच दिफर्यााीत नमु कै . अोक फ"के माध्र्यादिमक व उच्च माध्र्यादिमक
दिवर्याालर्या कु न्हा काकोड़ा,
मुक्ताईनर्गर दिन. जळर्गांव,
कमचारी संख्र्याा १४ र्याांचे
ालाथ प्रणालीमध्र्याे ड्राफ्" मी उपसंचालक,
नाशिक र्याेथे लेखाधि'कारी र्याा
पावर हजर असतांना भरलेले आहेत,
त्र्याा कालाव'ीत शिक्षण उपसंचालक
म्हणुन श्री. बी. बी. चव्हाण हे होते. कार्याालर्यााचा तपास अधि'कारी र्याांनी प्राप्त
माहीतीचा अशिभलेख ाखदिवला असता. त्र्यााती पाहणी करता सरचे ालाथ
आर्याडी हा कार्याालर्याीन वेळनंतर तर्याार झाल्र्यााचे दिसुन र्याेत आहे. मी
कार्याालर्याात असतांना तात्कालीन शिक्षण उपसंचालक श्री. बी. बी. चव्हाण हे
त्र्याांच्र्याा कॅ बीनमध्र्याे बसुन त्र्याांच्र्याा समक्ष मला ालाथ आर्याडीचा ड्राफ्"
भरण्र्याास सांर्गार्याचे तपुवF ते स्वतः त्र्यााचे लॅप"ॉपवर लॉर्गईन आर्या. डी. व
पासवड "ाकु न ालाथ प्रणाली ओपन करून ेत असत व मला अधितरिरक्त काम
म्हणून ालाथ ड्राफ्" भरण्र्याास सांर्गत असत. दिफर्यााीत नमु १४ कमचारी
र्यााचे ालाथ आर्या.डी. मी तर्याार के ले नसुन तात्कालीन शिक्षण उपसंचालक श्री. बी. बी. चव्हाण र्याांनी कार्याालर्या वेळेनंतर रात्री उीरा तर्याार के ल्र्यााचे दिसत आहे. सर र्गुन्हा नाशिकरोड पोलीस ठाणे र्याेथे ाखल झाल्र्याानंतर तात्कालीन
शिक्षण उपसंचालक श्री. बी. बी. चव्हाण र्याांनी एके दिवी मला फोन करून
सांदिर्गतले की, कै .
अोक फडके माध्र्यादिमक व उच्च माध्र्यादिमक दिवर्याालर्या कु न्हा काकोडा,
मुक्ताईनर्गर जिज. जळर्गाव,
कमचारी संख्र्याा १४ र्याांचे ालाथ
प्रणालीमध्र्याे ड्राफ्" हे तुझ्र्याा कालाव'ीत तर्याार के ले असे हे तुला पोलीसांनी
सर प्रकरणी जबाब ेण्र्यााकरिरता बोलवले तेव्हा जबाबात सांर्ग असे सादिर्गतले
पंरतु मी,
सरचे ालाथ प्रणालीमध्र्याे ड्राफ्" भरले नसल्र्यााने मी त्र्याांना स्पष्ट
पणे नकार दिला,
सर प्रकरणाी माझा काहीएक संब' नाही.”
12. In this background of the matter, it is significant to note
order dated 26th June 2019 issued by Nitin Bacchav, Incharge Deputy Director of Education, Nashik Division, Nashik (Pages Page 9
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde 111-112 of Additional Government Pleader’s Compilation), by which approval is given for inclusion of said Urvashi Nimba Choudhary in the Shalarth ID Pranali. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor pointed out Pages 113 to 115 of the compilation, wherein by using said order at Pages 111-112, a bogus order is created by mentioning 14 additional names in addition to said Urvashi Nimba Choudhary. Both these orders are scanned and set out hereinbelow : Pages 111 -112 of the Compilation tendered by Additional Government Pleader : Page 10
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde Page 11
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde Page 12
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde Pages 113 and 115 of the Compilation of Additional Government Pleader :
6. Page 13
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde Page 14
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13. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor has submitted that during investigation, it transpired that letter on Pages 111 to 112 is genuine letter whereas letter at Pages 113 to 115 of the Compilation is bogus letter created on the basis of said letter at Pages 111 to 112. 14. Thus, prima-facie it is clear that names of these 14 teaching/non-teaching staff have been included in the Shalarth ID Pranali when said Manish Shaligram Kadam was working as Accounts Officer in the office of Deputy Director of Education and he has stated that as per the instructions of the Applicant, names of these 14 teaching/non-teaching staff have been inserted in the Shalarth ID. 15. Thus, the contention raised by Mr. Gupte, learned Senior Counsel that powers were given to Accounts Officer, i.e. said Uday Vishnu Panchbhai, after transfer of earlier Accounts Officer Manish Kadam and by misusing the said powers, names of all these 79 teaching/non-teaching staff have been unauthorizedly included in Shalarth ID Pranali by said Uday Vishnu Panchbhai is not correct. In fact, during investigation, it was revealed that names of all these 79 Page 15
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde teaching/non-teaching staff have been included in the Shalarth ID Pranali at the instance of the Applicant. ” (Emphasis added)
7. Thus, in the said order, this Court has discussed even the role of the present Applicant.
Although, it is the contention of said Applicant- Bhausaheb Bhikanrao Chavan that all the powers are given to the present Applicant- Uday V. Panchabhai, he has no authority to pass order directing inclusion of names of teaching/non-teaching staff in the Shalarth ID Pranali. 8. It is the contention of the learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant that the statement titled as “Panchanama” was recorded as the then Deputy Director of Education, Bhausaheb Bhikanrao Chavan has threatened the present Applicant that he would take action of suspension against him and he would see to it that the present Applicant would not be paid pension and therefore, the said writing was taken from him. The said writing/panchanama reads as under :- Page 16
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9. As far as the Panchanama is concerned one Ms. Deepali Vijay Patil has signed the same as a witness. However, in her statement dated 21st January 2026 recorded by the Investigating Officer she has stated that the said statement was already ready and she has signed the same as witness as per the directions of the said Bhausaheb Bhikanrao Chavan, the then Deputy Director of Education, Nashik Division, Nashik. Thus, it is clear that the statement which the present Applicant has signed and thereafter which has been titled as “Panchanama” was written as per the directions of the said Bhausaheb B. Chavan, the then Deputy Director of Education, who had lodged the subject FIR i.e. C.R. No.164 of 2025 and thereafter during investigation his role is found in the crime. 10. In any case, it is relevant to note that, the present Applicant has no authority to include the names of any teachers/non- teaching staff in the Shalarth ID Pranali. 11.
Learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant submits that there are no other offences except the offences concerning Shalarth Page 18
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde ID Pranali. He further submits that the Applicant will cooperate with the investigation.
12. Thus, in the facts and circumstances, the case is made out for grant of Anticipatory Bail by imposing stringent conditions.
13. Accordingly, the following order is passed:
O R D E R (a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant- Uday Vishnu Panchabhai in connection with C.R. No.164 of 2025 registered with Nashik Road Police Station, Nashik City, the Applicant is directed to be released on bail on his furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount. (b) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when called by the Investigating Officer. (c) The Applicant shall furnish his cell phone number and residential address to the Investigating Officer and shall keep the same updated, in case of any change Page 19
9-ABA-1627-2025.DOC Akash Tayde thereto. (d) The Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade such a person from disclosing the facts to the Court or to any Police personnel. (e) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant or any witness in any manner. (f) The Applicant shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court.
14. The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of accordingly.
[MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.] Page 20