909-ABA-2371-2026.DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2371 OF 2026 Vikas Javan Vetal …Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra …Respondent Mr. Niranjan Bhavake a/w Vaishnavi Chore i/b Bhavake And Associates, for the Applicant. Mr. S. V. Walve, APP, for the Respondent-State. API Ravikiran Kadam, Lonikand Police Station, Pune City, present. CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J. DATED: 13 OCTOBER 2026 PC:- 1. Heard Mr. Bhavake, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant and Mr. Walve, learned APP, for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra. 2. By this Anticipatory Bail Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.348 of 2025 registered with Lonikand Police Station, Pune City, for the offences punishable under Section 136 of the Electricity Act 2003 and Section 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 3. The prosecution case is set out in Paragraph No.3 of the Anticipatory Bail Application, which reads as under: Page 1 Arjun 909-ABA-2371-2026.DOC “3. THE CASE OF THE PROSECUTION, IN BRIEF IS AS FOLLOWS:- a. One Vikas Vasantrao Vadkile, aged about 33 years, occupation service, residing at Aditya City, Gaikwad Heights Building, Flat No. 502, Perane Phata, Pune, who is employed with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) since the year 2017 filed this complaint against accused person. b. On 17/08/2025 at about 07.00 a.m., one farmer namely Ashok Dnyaneshwar Chaudhary from Mauje Tulapur contacted the informant's colleague, an outsourced wireman namely Ravindra Ingle, and informed him that a transformer installed in the agricultural field of Hanumant Dadabhau Shivle situated at Gat No. 470 on the side of Tulapur-Bhavdi Road had fallen down. c. Upon receiving the said information, Ravindra Ingle informed the informant, pursuant to which both of them visited the said spot at about 11.00 a.m. on the same day and carried out an inspection. It is alleged that during inspection, the transformer known as "Savarshet" was found lying on the ground, having fallen from the iron pole, and that transformer oil had spilled, causing damage to the equipment. d. Immediately thereafter, the informant reported the said incident to the Assistant Engineer, namely Mahesh Besulke, who subsequently visited the spot and conducted an inquest/panchnama of the place of occurrence. e. Thereafter an complaint was submitted to Lonikand Police Station. It is further alleged that due to the informant being occupied with his routine official duties, he could not remain personally present at the police station at that point of time for lodging the complaint. Page 2 Arjun 909-ABA-2371-2026.DOC Subsequently, the informant personally appeared before Lonikand Police Station and lodged a formal complaint, furnishing details of the alleged stolen property. f. It is alleged that the stolen property consists of one transformer of 22/100 KVA capacity bearing the name "Savarshet", installed in the field of Hanumant Dadabhau Shivle at Gat No. 470 on the side of Tulapur-Bhavdi Road within the limits of Mouje Tulapur village, valued at Rs. 28,000/-, bearing DTC No. 4053595, along with copper wires weighing approximately 70 kilograms, valued at the rate of Rs. 400/- per kilogram. It is also stated that it is alleged that the aforesaid copper wires and transformer were stolen. g. On 17/08/2025 between 01.00 a.m. and 07.00 a.m., some unknown person pushed the transformer named "Savarshet" from the iron pole, removed copper wires weighing approximately 70 kilograms for wrongful financial gain, spilled transformer oil on the ground and thereby caused loss to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, on the basis of which the present FIR has been registered against unknown persons.” 4. Mr. Bhavake, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant submits that except the statement of the Co-Accused wherein he had stated that the Applicant is involved in the crime, there is no other material against the Applicant. He submits that the Charge- sheet has already been filed and that the Applicant is not involved in the crime. Page 3 Arjun 909-ABA-2371-2026.DOC 5. On the other hand, Mr. Walve, learned APP, for the Respondent-State, submits that there are eight antecedents of similar nature and, therefore, the Applicant is involved in the crime. 6. Mr. Bhavake, learned Counsel for the Applicant, states that in all the offences, the Applicant has been granted either anticipatory bail or regular bail. 7. As the Charge-sheet has been filed, the investigation is completed. Except the statements of two Co-Accused, there is no other material against the Applicant. 8. Accordingly, case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. However, as there are eight antecedents of similar nature, stringent conditions are required to be imposed. 9. In view thereof, the following Order is passed: O R D E R (a) In the event of arrest of Applicant - Vikas Javan Vetal in connection with CR No.348 of 2025 registered with Lonikand Police Station, Pune City, the Applicant is Page 4 Arjun 909-ABA-2371-2026.DOC directed to be released on bail on his furnishing PR 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, once in 15 days i.e. on the first and the third Monday of each month between 11:00 am to 02:00 pm, till the conclusion of the trial. (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 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 Page 5 Arjun 909-ABA-2371-2026.DOC permission of the Court. 10. The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of accordingly. [MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.] Page 6 Arjun