(904) ABA-449.26.DOCX lgc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.449 OF 2026 Sagar alias Akash Sandip Sabale : Applicant. Versus. The State of Maharashtra and anr : Respondents. ----- Mr. Rahul Dhaigude a/w Adv. Preeti L Dawada for the Applicant. Ms. Shubhangi N Deshmukh, APP for the Respondents – State. PSI Sudheer Balaso More, Satara City Police Station, present. ------- CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J. DATED : 19 AUGUST 2026 PC:- 1. Heard Mr. Rahul Dhaigude, learned Advocate for the Applicant and Ms. Shubhangi Deshmukh, learned APP for the Respondents – State. 2. By this Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (“BNSS, 2023”), the Applicant seeks pre-arrest bail in connection with C.R. No. 509 of 2026 registered with Satara City Police Station for offences punishable under Sections 308(5), 127(3), 351, 352 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (“BNS, 2023”) and Sections 39 and 45 of the Maharashtra Money Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014. 1 LAXMIKANT GOPAL CHANDAN Digitally signed by LAXMIKANT GOPAL CHANDAN Date: 2026.08.20 14:44:31 +0530 (904) ABA-449.26.DOCX 3. Mr. Rahul Dhaigude, learned Advocate for the Applicant, states that there are four (4) Accused in Crime No. 509 of 2026, with the Applicant being Accused No. 1. 4. The prosecution case is that on 11 June 2026, the Accused in Crime No. 509 of 2026, intending to recover the amount borrowed by the Informant as a loan from “Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd.”, threatened and demanded money from the Informant and also restrained the Informant and his friend in a room. 5. Mr. Rahul Dhaigude, learned Advocate for the Applicant, submits that the Applicant is employed with Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. He submits that the Informant was liable to repay the loan advanced by Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. He submits that the demand made by the Applicant from the Informant to pay the amount due and payable by the Informant in terms of the loan agreement executed by Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. was met with resistance from the Informant, which led to the filing of the complaint, which is frivolous and mala fide to avoid repayment of the loan. He submits that Accused Nos. 2, 3 and 4 in Crime No. 509 of 2026 have been released on bail. 6. Ms. Shubhangi Deshmukh, learned APP for the Respondents -State, submits that the Applicant is the principal person connected with the affairs of Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. in District Satara and that he has acted in an illegal manner. She submits that the Applicant has not functioned and/or performed his duties as required by Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. She states that the custodial interrogation of the Applicant is required to recover the blank 2 (904) ABA-449.26.DOCX cheques and other documents pertaining to the loan transaction the Informant had with Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. in District Satara. 7. Perused the records. 8. Applicant is an employee of Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd., as submitted by Mr. Rahul Dhaigude, learned Advocate for the Applicant. 9. The statement of Balasaheb Mahadev Ghadge, the Director of Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd., is recorded in Crime No. 509 of 2026. A perusal of the said statement reveals that although Balasaheb Mahadev Ghadge has referred to the Applicant as his employee, he makes no allegations that the Applicant acted contrary to the policy of Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. 10. As submitted by Mr. Rahul Dhaigude, learned Advocate for the Applicant, it prima facie appears that non-payment of the loan advanced by Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. to the Informant and matters pertaining to its recovery by the Applicant -employee of Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. have resulted in the controversy which is the subject matter of Crime No. 509 of 2026. 11. Accused Nos. 2, 3 and 4 in Crime No. 509 of 2026 have been released on bail. 12. Mr. Rahul Dhaigude, learned Advocate for the Applicant, on instructions from the Applicant, states that all the required documents pertaining to Mauli Finance Pvt. Ltd. in respect of the loan advanced to the Informant shall be handed over to the Investigating Officer as and when required and that the Applicant shall cooperate in the investigation of Crime No. 509 of 2026. 3 (904) ABA-449.26.DOCX 13. In view of the above, custodial interrogation of the Applicant is not required. 14. Criminal Anticipatory Bail Application No.449 of 2026 is allowed on the following conditions :- (a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant in the Crime No.509 of 2026, registered with the Satara City Police Station, Applicant shall be released on bail upon Applicant furnishing a PR bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only), with one or two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of Investigating Officer, Satara City Police Station in Crime No. 509 of 2026. (b) The Applicant shall appear and report to the Investigating Officer, Satara City Police Station, on 24 August 2026, 25 August 2026, 27 August 2026 and 28 August 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and thereafter as and when required by the Investigating Officer, Satara City Police Station. The Applicant shall cooperate with the Investigating Officer in the investigation of Crime No. 509 of 2026. (c) The Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to the Intervenor or any person/s acquainted with the facts of the case to dissuade such person/s from disclosing the facts to the 4 (904) ABA-449.26.DOCX Court or any police officer. (d) The Applicant shall not tamper with evidence in any manner. (e) The Applicant shall provide the Investigation Officer, Satara City Police Station with his residential address along with proof, his contact numbers and must inform the Investigating Officer of any changes to this information from time to time. (f) The Applicant shall act on the basis of the statement made by his Advocate Mr. Rahul Dhaigude as recorded in paragraph No.12 hereinabove by furnishing all the documents required by the Investigating Officer Crime No. 509 of 2026. 15. Criminal Anticipatory Bail Application No.449 of 2026 is disposed of. (ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) 5