62-BA-3145-2026.doc Sharada IN IN THE THE HIGH HIGH COURT COURT OF OF JUDICATURE JUDICATURE AT AT BOMBAY BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO.3145 OF 2026 Sachin@Dada Sanjay Ranpise .. Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra .. Respondent WITH BAIL APPLICATION NO.1242 OF 2026 Balaji Ramrao Hinge .. Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra .. Respondent ....................  Mr. Ibrahim Abdul Shaikh ((Through VC), Advocates for Applicant in BA/3145/2026.  Ms. Shilpa Talhar, APP for Respondent in BA/3145/2026.  Ms. Pooja Agarwal, Advocate for the Applicant in BA/1242/2026 (Through VC).  Ms. Gauri Rao, APP for Respondent in BA/1242/2026.  Mr. Ravikiran Kadam, API Lonikand Police Station, present. ................... CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J. DATE : OCTOBER 13, 2026 P.C. : 1. Heard Mr. Shaikh, learned Advocate for Applicant and Mr. Talhar, learned APP for Respondent in Bail Application No. 3145 of 2026; Ms. Agarwal, learned Advocate for Applicant and Ms. Raw, learned APP for Respondent in Bail Application No. 1242 of 2026. 2. Both Applications are filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking bail in connection with C.R. 1 of 5 62-BA-3145-2026.doc No.1046 of 2024 registered with Lonikand Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 238, 137(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 3. The Bail Application No. 3145 of 2026 has been filed by Accused No. 2 – Sachin Panpise. The co-accused, namely Accused No. 1, Balaji Hinge, has filed Bail Application No. 1242 of 2026. Although the Bail Application No. 1242 of 2026 is not listed on board, it is taken on board today by consent of parties and heard along with the other Bail Application. Accordingly, a common order is being passed in both Bail Applications. 4. Both Applicants are young offenders who have been indicted in connection with the alleged murder of one of their college classmates. The statements of various college friends of the deceased have been recorded. However, none of the statements, prima facie, disclose any direct nexus between either of the Applicants and the commission of the crime. At the highest, the case of the prosecution is based on the theory of last seen together, whereby the deceased was allegedly seen in the company of the Applicants. After hearing Mr. Shaikh on the previous occasion, the following order was passed: “1. Heard Mr. Shaikh, learned Advocate for Applicant and Ms. Talhar, learned APP for State. 2. Applicant- accused No.2 is in incarceration since 29.12.2024. Mr. Shaikh would argue the Applicant has virtually no role whatsoever for being indicted in the 2 of 5 62-BA-3145-2026.doc present crime. Case of the prosecution is based on last seen theory as he having been seen with accused no.1 and the deceased. He would submit that accused no.1 and deceased were having relationship and may be due to some reason, accused no.1 may have eliminated the deceased victim. Insofar as role of Applicant is concerned, learned APP is directed to take appropriate instructions and ascertain the veracity of the submissions made by Mr. Shaikh and accordingly apprise the Court on the next adjourned date too enable this Court to determine the present Application. 3. Stand over to 25th August, 2026.” 5. Today, Ms. Agarwal has also made submissions on behalf of Accused No. 1. The case of the prosecution is solely based on the theory of last seen together, without any other incriminating material. The statements of the college friends which have been recorded, also do not disclose any specific incriminating material that would persuade this Court to reject the Bail Applications at the threshold. Hence, considering that both Applicants are young offenders and case of prosecution is based on suspicion and circumstantial evidence, I am inclined to consider their cases favourably for bail. Accordingly, both Applicants are granted bail. 6. Hence, in view of above prima facie observations and findings, Bail Applications of Applicants are allowed subject to the following terms and conditions:- (i) Both Applicants are directed to be immediately released from prison in connection with CR. No.1046 of 2024 ; 3 of 5 62-BA-3145-2026.doc (ii) Both Applicants are directed to be released on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rs. Ten Thousand only) each with one or two sureties in the like amount; (iii) Both Applicants shall report to the Investigating Officer at concerned Police Station, once every month, on the first Monday of the month between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. until commencement of trial and thereafter shall attend all dates of hearing before the Trial Court; (iv) Both Applicants shall cooperate with the conduct of the trial and remain present before the Trial Court on all dates, unless specifically exempted. Applicants shall not seek unnecessary adjournments. Any such conduct shall entitle the prosecution to apply for cancellation of bail; (v) Both Applicants shall not leave the State of Maharashtra without prior permission of the Trial Court; (vi) Both Applicants shall not influence any of the witnesses or tamper with the evidence in any manner; (vii) Both Applicants shall keep the Investigating Officer informed of their current residential address and mobile telephone number and shall forthwith inform the Investigating Officer of any change in their residential 4 of 5 62-BA-3145-2026.doc address or mobile telephone number, as and when such change occurs; and (viii)Any breach or infraction of any of the aforesaid conditions shall entail cancellation of the bail granted to the Applicants. 7. It is clarified that the observations made in this order are limited for the purpose of granting bail only and I have not made any observations on merits of the case. The trial shall be adjudicated on the strength of the evidence led and strictly on its own merits being uninfluenced with any of the prima facie observations made hereinabove in this order. 8. Bail Application Nos. 3145 of 2026 and 1242 of 2026 are allowed and disposed in the above terms. [ MILIND N. JADHAV, J. ] 5 of 5 RAVINDRA MOHAN AMBERKAR Digitally signed by RAVINDRA MOHAN AMBERKAR Date: 2026.10.14 19:26:48 +0530