1 15-Cr.ABA-829-2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR. CRIMINAL APPLICATION [A.B.A.] NO. 829 OF 2026 Sanjay Vinod Sachdev and Another -- VERSUS -- State of Maharashtra __________________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders. and Registrar's Orders. Mr. P.V. Navlani, Advocate for the Applicants. Ms. S.S. Dhote, A.P.P. for the Non-applicant/State. CORAM : M.M. NERLIKAR, J. DATE : OCTOBER 13, 2026. Heard. 2. Apprehending arrest, the accused have approached this Court in connection with Crime No.925/2026 for the offences punishable under Sections 23, 39, 42 and 45 of the Maharashtra Money-Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014, and Section 318[4] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, registered with Police Station Gadge Nagar, District Amravati City. 3. The informant, Manoj Sudhakar Rohankar, a Co- operation Officer Grade-I attached to the Deputy Registrar, Co- operative Societies, Amravati, alleged that, pursuant to a complaint regarding illegal moneylending, raids were conducted at the residences of the accused on 17th July, 2026. During the Piyush Mahajan 2026:BHC-NAG:13749 2 15-Cr.ABA-829-2026 raids, documents, including blank cheques, signed blank stamp papers and loan receipts, were seized. Upon preliminary examination of the seized documents, it was alleged that the present applicants were engaged in illegal money-lending activities in violation of the Maharashtra Money-Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014. Based on these allegations, the First Information Report (FIR) came to be registered. 4. The learned counsel for the applicants submits that a complaint was made to the Deputy Registrar alleging that the applicants were engaged in illegal money-lending business. Pursuant to the said complaint, enquiry was conducted, and order was passed holding that the applicants were doing illegal money-lending business. Thereafter, a raid was conducted at the house of applicants, and blank cheques and some property documents of the victims were seized. Though the allegations are serious in nature, the maximum punishment for the offence of illegal money-lending under the Money-Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014, is five years, whereas under the BNS, it is seven years. Now, there is nothing further to be recovered from the applicants, as everything has already been seized by the concerned officers. Under such circumstances, he submits that, as this Court has granted interim protection to the applicants by order dated 17/09/2026, the same may be confirmed. 5. On the other hand, the learned A.P.P. vehemently opposes the application and submits that, during the inquiry Piyush Mahajan 3 15-Cr.ABA-829-2026 before the Deputy Registrar, it was proved that the applicants were doing illegal money-lending business. During the investigation, it transpired that the applicants were engaged in illegal money-lending business without there being any licence, and accordingly, four other persons have also made similar allegations against the applicants regarding illegal money- lending. During the raid, several cheques and documents were found with the applicants. Under such circumstances, she submits that merely because the maximum punishment for illegal money-lending under the Money-Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014, is five years, and under the BNS, it is seven years, that by itself is not sufficient to grant anticipatory bail. She further submits that people are committing suicide due to illegal money-lending business, and therefore, according to the learned A.P.P., the applicants do not deserve to be granted anticipatory bail. 6. Upon consideration of the submissions, it appears that a raid was conducted and relevant documents, including cheques, were seized by the Deputy Registrar, and accordingly, the F.I.R. came to be registered against the applicants. It further appears that the Deputy Registrar has held that the applicants were doing money-lending business. It is further to be noted that, during the investigation, four other victims came forward and stated that the applicants were doing illegal money-lending business. Piyush Mahajan 4 15-Cr.ABA-829-2026 Be that as it may, the maximum punishment provided for the offence under the BNS is seven years, whereas under the Money-Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014, it is five years. Apparently, everything appears to have been seized by the Deputy Registrar or the Investigating Officer. It also appears that, when the applicants were granted interim protection, they cooperated with the investigation. Under such circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that the applicants have made out a case for grant of anticipatory bail. Hence, the following order: O R D E R i) The Criminal Application is allowed and disposed of; ii) The order dated 17/09/2026 is confirmed on the same terms and conditions as incorporated in the said order; iii) The observations of this Court are prima facie in nature. The Trial Court shall not be influenced by the same; iv) Pending Misc. Application(s), if any, also stand disposed of. [ (M.M. NERLIKAR, J.) Piyush Mahajan Signed by: Piyush Ramesh Mahajan Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 13/10/2026 16:47:59