29.BA.3770.2026.doc HARSHADA H. SAWANT (P.A.) 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.3770 OF 2026 Vinay Manish Chavan .. Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra .. Respondent ....................  Mr. Veerdhawal Deshmukh a/w. Mr. Ameyprasad Atigre, Advocates for Applicant.  Ms. Shilpa G. Talhar, APP for Respondent.  Mr. Kuldeep Patil, Advocate i/by Ms. Saili Dhuru for Original Complainant.  Dr. Vishal Nehul, Dy.S.P., SDPO, Khalapur. ................... CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J. DATE : OCTOBER 16, 2026 P.C. : 1. Heard Mr. Deshmukh, learned Advocate for Applicant and Ms. Talhar, learned APP for Respondent – State and Mr. Patil, learned Advocate for First Informant - Complainant. 2. This is an Application under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking Bail in connection with C.R. No.366 of 2025 registered with Khopoli Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 103(1), 61(2), 189(1), 189(4), 190, 191(3), 238(a), 49, 58, 249 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Sections 3, 4, 25 of the Arms Act, 1959; Section 37(1)(3) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951. 3. On 07.10.2026, after hearing learned Advocate Mr. 1 of 5 29.BA.3770.2026.doc Deshmukh for Applicant; learned APP for Respondent – State, the following order was passed:- “1 Heard Mr. Deshmukh, learned Counsel for the Applicant and Ms. Talghar, learned APP for the Respondent – State. 2. The Applicant is arraigned as Accused No. 16 in the present crime. In all there are 17 Accused persons. The only role attributed to the Applicant is that he was tagged by Accused No. 3 in an Instagram post, copy of which is placed at page Nos. 745 to 747. I have perused the said Instagram posts. There is nothing conveyed in those posts with regard to the role of the Applicant of he having participated in the alleged conspiracy pertaining to the present offence in question. Prima facie, it is seen that the incident is an outcome of political rivalry between parties and groups. Be that as it may, role of the Applicant as argued by Mr. Deshmukh is only to the aforesaid extent and nothing more. 3. Ms. Talhar, learned Prosecutor is directed to take appropriate instructions regarding the specific role attributed to the Applicant and accordingly, apprised the Court on the next adjourned date. 4. Stand over to 09.10.2026, First On Board under the caption “Part-Heard”.” 4. Carrying on further today, Mr. Patil, learned Advocate appearing for the First Informant – Complainant would submit that the Applicant is alleged to have conspired in the murder of the victim in view of the apparent political rivalry and the fact that when the victim had gone for a religious visit an Instagram post posted by the principal protagonist who is the main accused person was responded to by the Applicant by stating that the result would be out on 21.12.2025. He would submit that though not in so many words, the said post on Instagram responded and replied to by the Applicant itself shows his complicity in the crime and the fact that the Applicant was aware about the consequences at the then time. It is clarified that the Instagram post forwarded and responded by the Applicant was after 2 of 5 29.BA.3770.2026.doc the declaration of the result. 5. Mr. Deshumukh has clarified that the said post was infact forwarded by a person called - Sachin Chavan and not by present Applicant. 6. I have considered the submissions made and the material placed on record. The result of the election was infact declared on 21.122025 which prima facie relates to the post which was responded to by the Applicant. The murder of the deceased-victim took place on 26.12.2025. Wife of the deceased had contested the election successfully against the aunt of the Applicant. 7. Ms. Talhar has also placed on record a Complaint which was lodged against the Applicant three weeks’ prior to the incident in question on the basis of the Applicant having trailed the deceased - victim but after having a meeting with family members on 05.12.2025, the issue had stood otherwise resolved. 8. Needless to state that complicity of the Applicant will undoubtedly be proved by the prosecution at trial. 9. From the aforementioned prima facie opinion, the Applicant is released on bail subject to following conditions:- (i) Applicant - Vinay Manish Chavan is directed to be immediately released from prison in connection with 3 of 5 29.BA.3770.2026.doc Crime No. 366 of 2025; (ii) Applicant is directed to be released on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- (Rs. Twenty Five Thousand only) with one or two surety / sureties of the like amount; (iii) Applicant shall report to the Investigating Officer at Khopoli Police Station, once every month on the first Monday of the month between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; (iv) Applicant shall co-operate with the conduct of trial and attend the Trial Court on all dates, unless specifically exempted and will not take any unnecessary adjournments, if he does so it will entitle the prosecution to apply for revocation of this order; (v) Applicant shall not leave the State of Maharashtra without prior permission of the Trial Court; (vi) Applicant shall not influence any of the witnesses or tamper with the evidence in any manner; (vii) Applicant shall keep the Investigating Officer informed of his current address and mobile contact number and / or change of residence or mobile details, if any, from time to time, as applicable; and (viii)Any infraction of the conditions shall entail cancellation 4 of 5 29.BA.3770.2026.doc of bail granted to the Applicant. 10. 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. 11. Bail Application is allowed and disposed of in the above terms. H. H. SAWANT [ MILIND N. JADHAV, J. ] 5 of 5 HARSHADA HANUMANT SAWANT Digitally signed by HARSHADA HANUMANT SAWANT Date: 2026.10.16 15:07:36 +0530