PRASAD 76_BA_2166_2026.DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO.2166 OF 2026 Rajnikant @ Bunty Mohan Gaikwad …Applicant V/s. State of maharashtra …Respondent Mr. Vinod Kashid a/w Sumit Bhoite, for the Applicant. Mr. H.J. Dedhia, APP for the Respondent – State. CORAM: SHYAM C. CHANDAK, J. DATED : 7TH JULY, 2026 P.C. :- . Mentioned out of turn. 2. The Applicant seeks his release on bail in connection with C.R. No.44 of 2023 registered with Kalwa Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 384, 341, 342 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and Sections 3(1) (ii), 3(2) and 3(4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (‘MCOCA’). 3. Heard Mr. Kashid, learned counsel for the Applicant and Mr. Dedhia, learned APP for the Respondent – State. 4. On 20.01.2023, the Informant filed a Report with Kalwa Police Station, therein, he has stated that on 03.01.2023, at about 05:45 to 09:12 hours, the Applicant and the co-accused namely Anthony Raj and Gautam Wagh threatened to take action against him, alleging that, he was carrying beef and then, they took the Informant to Airoli Traffic Chowk in their car. Meanwhile, at PRASAD RAJENDRASING RAJPUT Digitally signed by PRASAD RAJENDRASING RAJPUT Date: 2026.07.10 17:47:02 +0530 PRASAD 76_BA_2166_2026.DOC about 09:12 hours, they forced the Informant to send Rs.15,000/- by PhonePe to Pravin Shetty as a ransom. Therefore, aforesaid crime came to be registered against the Applicant and the co- accused. Investigation culminated into filing of charge-sheet. 5. Mr. Kashid, learned counsel for the Applicant, pressed the Application on the ground of parity. Mr. Dedhia, learned APP for the Respondent – State, has conceded the ground of parity because in Bail Application No.1799 of 2025 co-accused - Deepak Pancham Kesari, has been released on bail by this Court, observing that, on the same day, i.e., on 03.01.2023, at about 06:15 a.m., the Applicant and co-accused persons namely Deepak Pancham Kesari and Anthony Raj had committed extortion in the similar manner against the Informant. Mohd. Sameer Arib Shaikh, vide C.R. No.8/2023, registered with Rabale Police Station. However, the co-accused – Anthony Raj was not found to be involved in either of the two crimes because at the relevant time he was hospitalised on account of accidental injuries. This fact was confirmed by the CCTV footage Anthony Raj had produced before the police. It is only then, the Informant in this case changed his stance in the suplimentary statement that Anthony Raj was not present at the spot of the incident. 6. In the wake of the above, the is Applicant allowed. Hence, following Order :- (i) The Applicant – Rajnikant @ Bunty Mohan Gaikwad be released on bail in C.R. No.44 of 2023 registered with Kalwa Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 384, 341, 342 read with Section 34 of the IPC and Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2) and 3(4) of the MCOCA, on his PRASAD 76_BA_2166_2026.DOC executing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs.30,000/- with one surety in the like amount. (ii) The Applicant shall attend concerned police station between 11:00 a.m to 03:00 p.m. on 1st Monday of each month for a period of six months. (iii) The Applicant shall attend every date of hearing before the Trial Court, unless exempted by specific order of the Trial Court. (iv) The observations made in this order are prima facie in nature and will not bind parties or Trial Court during trial. (SHYAM C. CHANDAK, J.)