1 17.aba.672.2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR CRIMINAL APPLICATION (ABA) NO.672 OF 2026 Sau. Mina Rameshwar Merat and anr. ..vs.. State of Maharashtra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shri A.G. Hunge, Advocate a/w Shri S.S. Karanjkar, Advocate for the applicants. Ms S.N. Thakur, APP for the non-applicant/State. Shri M.A. Puranik, Advocate for non-applicant no.2. CORAM: M.M. NERLIKAR, J. DATE : 21.08.2026. Heard. 2. Apprehending arrest in connection with Crime No.432 of 2026 registered with Mehkar Police Station, District Buldhana for the offences punishable under Sections 3(5), 80(2), 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the applicants prayed for pre-arrest protection. 3. The FIR was lodged alleging that due to demand of dowry and harassment at the hands of the applicants and husband of the deceased, the daughter of the informant committed suicide. 4. Learned Counsel for the applicants submits that the allegations in the FIR are vague and most of the allegations are against the husband of the deceased. It is alleged that the deceased committed suicide by hanging herself at the matrimonial house, however learned Counsel for the applicants submitted that the applicants 2026:BHC-NAG:10911 2 17.aba.672.2026 i.e. father-in-law and mother-in-law of the deceased are residing separately. The applicants never demanded any amount from the deceased or her parents. Considering all these aspects, the applicants prayed to be enlarged on anticipatory bail. 5. On the other hand learned APP appearing for the State and learned Counsel appearing for the informant vehemently opposed the application by inviting my attention to the bank account statement/extract of the applicants and submitted that on several occasions amount has been transferred by the father of the deceased, which itself demonstrates that there was consistent demand by the husband and the applicants. The allegations are serious in nature and the marriage was solemnized before four years of the incident and since then there was consistent harassment at the hands of the husband of the deceased and the applicants, which left no option with the deceased but to commit suicide and hence, the application is prayed to be rejected. 6. I have considered the rival submissions and perused the material produced on record. Prima facie it appears that there was demand of dowry which is supported by the bank account statement of the applicants, from which it could be gathered that several times amount was deposited by the father of the deceased. Upon query, learned Counsel for the applicants submits that said accounts are operated by the husband of the deceased and on his say the amount was transferred in their account. The said explanation is 3 17.aba.672.2026 unacceptable however, considering the fact that the applicants are residing separately and therefore, there was least possibility of interference in day to day life of the couple. Hence, I am inclined to grant pre-arrest protection to the applicants by confirming the interim protection granted by this Court vide order dated 29.07.2026. Hence the following order : (a) The Application is allowed and disposed of. (b) The order dated 29.07.2026 is hereby confirmed on the same terms and conditions as incorporated in the said order. 7. Pending application, if any, stands disposed of accordingly. 8. The observations of this Court are prima facie in nature and are only limited to this application. The Trial Court shall not be influenced by the aforesaid observations. (M.M. NERLIKAR , J. ) Trupti Signed by: Trupti D. Agrawal Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 21/08/2026 16:16:41