910-ABA-2360-2026 Harish IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2360 OF 2026 Sandeep Sitaram Ambre ...Applicant V/s. The State Of Maharashtra ...Respondent Mr. Prashant Suryawanshi i/b Gajanan Savagave, for the Applicant. Ms. Poonam Bhosale, APP for the Respondent – State. CORAM : PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J. DATE : 21ST AUGUST, 2026. P.C. :- 1. Heard Advocate Prashant Suryawanshi, learned counsel for the applicant and Advocate Poonam Bhosale, learned APP for the Respondent-State. 2. The applicant has filed the instant application under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, apprehending arrest in Crime No. 217 of 2026, dated 01.07.2026, registered with Wagle Estate Police Station, Thane for the offence punishable under Sections - 1 - 910-ABA-2360-2026 316(4), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. 3. The FIR came to be registered on the basis of a report lodged by Ms. Jennin Fernandes, who is working as a Senior Director (HR) of a Company by name Vertiv Multi National Company, located at Thane. She has alleged in the report that this applicant was working as Senior Manager in the Company since 2017. In the month of November, 2025, the Senior Manager (Treasury and Banking) had informed the H.R. department that an amount of Rs. 6,83,08,313/- has been transferred to the account of this applicant which was maintained with Standard Chartered Bank during the period from 2021 to 2025 and further an amount of Rs. 1,08,62,362/- has been transferred to his another account. On inquiry in this regard, it was noticed that the amount towards full and final payment of the staff of the company who has left the company, was repeatedly diverted from the company's bank account to the individual accounts of the accused/this applicant. It is alleged that on questioning to the applicant in this regard, he had confessed that he had diverted the amount to his own account and expressed readiness to refund the amount. On the basis of his readiness he had returned an amount of Rs. - 2 - 910-ABA-2360-2026 2,13,00,000/- out of total amount of Rs. 7,91,70,675/-, but failed to return an amount of Rs. 5,78,70,675/- and thus it is alleged that the applicant has committed the offence of cheating along with other offences. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the allegations in the FIR are in the nature of civil dispute and even a separate suit bearing no. 5690 of 2026 is pending before this Court. He also submitted that the alleged confession is not voluntary and cannot be made the basis for initiating prosecution against him. He also submitted that the applicant has showed his bonafides by returning an amount of Rs. 2,13,00,000/- and is ready to return the remaining amount. He, therefore, prayed for grant of anticipatory bail. 5. As against this, learned APP for the respondent opposed the application and pointed out that there are specific allegations about the acts of cheating by this applicant. She also submitted that this applicant carried the intention to deceive since beginning and has dishonestly transferred huge amounts to his personal accounts. She also submitted that the cheques issued by the applicant for refund of the amount also got - 3 - 910-ABA-2360-2026 dishonored and further that the applicant is absconding. Hence, she submitted that the custodial interrogation of this applicant is necessary. 6. Perused the FIR and the documents placed on record. The report is lodged by a Senior Official of the company making specific allegations against this applicant showing his deceitful acts. There are specific allegations against this applicant that he has diverted the amount of full and final salaries of the retired employee in his account, on the basis of fabricated vouchers. The amount misappropriated by this applicant is huge and although he has stated that he has returned an amount of Rs. 2,13,00,000/-, it is undisputed that he has failed to return the remaining amount of Rs. 5,78,70,675. Apart from this, the cheques issued by this applicant to return the amount have also been dishonored and it is thus prima facie evident that the applicant has cheated the company. The entire conduct on the part of the applicant appears to be a calculated plan to commit cheating and cause wrongful gain to himself. 7. It has also to be noted that the applicant has himself returned an amount of Rs. 2,13,00,000/- and as such, at this stage his contention that the confession was not voluntary cannot be accepted. Further, since the - 4 - 910-ABA-2360-2026 learned APP has also pointed out that the applicant is absconding, it has to be noted that the applicant has not extended any co-operation to the investigating agency. 8. Considering the nature of offence against the applicant and his entire conduct in engaging in deceitful means, the custodial interrogation of this applicant is warranted. Hence, considering the entirety of factors, I am of the opinion that the applicant has failed to make out any case for grant of anticipatory bail. 9. Accordingly, the Anticipatory Bail Application is rejected. (PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.) - 5 -