MANOJ 902-BA-760-2026.DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO.760 OF 2026 Vedant Jagannath Kondamwar …Applicant V/s. The State of Maharashtra & Anr. …Respondents Mr. Veerdhawal Deshmukh, for the Applicant. Ms. Veera Shinde, APP for the Respondent No.1-State. Mr. Sandeep B. Satkar, for the Respondent N0.2. PSI – Prataprao Kadam, Virar Police Station, present. CORAM: SHYAM C. CHANDAK, J. DATED : 14th AUGUST, 2026 P.C. :- 1. Heard learned Counsel for the parties. Perused the record. 2. Applicant seeks his release on bail in connection with an FIR bearing CR No.404 of 2025 registered with Virar Police Station, for the offence punishable under Sections 77, 78, 308(3), 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (“BNS”), Sections 12 and 14 of the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (“POCSO Act”) and Sections 66(c), 66(e), 67, 67(a), and 67(b), for the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”), on the report dated 26th June, 2025, filed by the father of the victim girl. 3. It is alleged that, in May 2025, the victim and the Applicant came in contact through Snapchat App and thereafter, they used to talk with each other on Snapchat calls, which led to establishing love relationship between the two. Taking advantage of that relationship, the Applicant obtained the Snapchat ID and password of the victim. It is alleged that on 11th June, 2025, during a video call on Snapchat, the Applicant appeared with masked face and being threatened by him, the victim partly uncovered herself and sexually assaulted to self on chest. It is alleged that said entire MANOJ 902-BA-760-2026.DOC act was video graphed by the Applicant during the video call. Further, the Applicant uploaded that video on the Snapchat ID of the victim, as she did not fulfill his demand of extortion money. The said video was seen by her relative. Therefore, aforesaid crime came to be registered and the Applicant was arrested. On completion of the investigation, police submitted the charge-sheet. The trial Court declined to release the Applicant on bail. 4. Mr. Deshmukh, learned Counsel for the Applicant submitted that the identity of the Applicant is questionable as the victim herself mentioned in her statement that the face of the Applicant was masked. No chat history is recovered from the victim’s side to corroborate narration in the Report. This indicates that the Applicant is innocent. There is considerable delay in lodging of the Report which create doubt about the prosecution case. The Applicant is in jail for about a year and his further detention is not required. Therefore, he be released on bail. 5. Per contra, Ms. Shinde, learned APP submitted that taking advantage of tender age of the victim, her feelings and threatening her, the Applicant compelled her to sexually assault herself. Additionally, the Applicant video graphed that act and also demanded money from her by threatening to make that video viral. Therefore, the offence is serious and bail be declined. 6. Considering the material on record and the rival submissions, I am of the view that there is a prima facie case against the Applicant of having committed the alleged offence. However, it appears that due to the adolescent age, the victim and the Applicant both indulged in the said act, which Applicant video graphed and misused. MANOJ 902-BA-760-2026.DOC 7. Be that as it may. Now, the testimony of the victim is over. The Applicant is in jail for last one year. He is also not likely to tamper with the prosecution evidence to be recorded. He is not likely to repeat the offence or abscond. The Applicant has no criminal antecedent. 8. In the wake of above, I am inclined to allow the Application. Hence, following Order:- (i) Applicant – Vedant Jagannath Kondamwar shall be released on bail in connection with aforesaid CR No.404 of 2025 registered with Virar Police Station, on his furnishing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount. (ii) The Applicant shall mark his attendance at Virar Police Station on the 1st day of each calendar month between 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., till the conclusion of the trial. Said attendance should start from 1st September, 2026. (iii) The Applicant shall regularly attend the proceedings before the jurisdictional Court unless exempted. (iv) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not directly or indirectly influence upon the prosecution witness to prevent them from deposing against him. (v) On being released from jail, the Applicant shall furnish his contact number and residential address to the Investigation Officer and shall keep him updated, in case there is any change. (vi) The Applicant shall not indulge in identical activities for which he has been arraigned in this case. MANOJ 902-BA-760-2026.DOC (vii) By way of abundant caution, it is clarified that the observations made hereinabove are confined for the purpose of determination to the entitlement for bail and they may not be construed as an expression of opinion on the guilt or otherwise of the Applicant and the trial Court shall not be influenced by any of the observations made hereinabove. 9. Application stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms. (SHYAM C. CHANDAK, J.) PREETI HEERO JAYANI Digitally signed by PREETI HEERO JAYANI Date: 2026.08.17 18:28:01 +0530