1 23 ABA 694.26 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR CRIMINAL APPLICATION (ABA) NO. 694/2026 (Pankaj S/o. Ganeshrao Wadal 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. M. V. Bute, Advocate for applicant. Ms. S. N. Thakur, APP for non-applicant/State. CORAM: M. M. NERLIKAR, J . DATED : 24/08/2026. Heard. 2. By this application, the applicant is seeking anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No. 430/2026 registered with Police Station Ramdaspeth, Akola for the offences punishable under Sections 333, 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 3. Brief facts of the prosecution case are that on 29/06/2026 in the evening at around 05.00 p.m. the informant was alone at her home at that time guest of informant’s neighbour namely Sachin Ramesh Ramaghare came in front of her house and stated that he has come to take electricity meter reading. He further asked the informant to show the meter. Acting upon that, the informant took the applicant to show the meter and after 2 23 ABA 694.26 that the informant went to the other room. The applicant took off his pants and followed her to the other room where the applicant came near the informant from behind and groped her. Therefore, the informant got scared and ran outside the house and started making hue and cry for help. Hearing the informant's hue and cry for help the neighbourers namely Mohan Jaglu and Santosh Nanmore came for her help. Thereafter, informant called her husband to come home immediately. Upon his arrival informant gave detailed information about the incident to her husband and in the mean time the applicant ran away from back side. Based on this information, the first information report was registered. 4. The learned counsel for the applicant submits that the name of the present applicant is not mentioned in the first information report. It is the victim who had called the applicant inside the house. The allegations levelled against the applicant are false, therefore he prays for grant of anticipatory bail. 5. On the other hand, the learned APP submits that the allegations are serious in nature. The victim herself 3 23 ABA 694.26 stated in the first information report that the applicant is the guest at the house of Sachin Ramaghare and at the relevant time, the applicant asked the victim to show the meter and accordingly the victim has shown the meter. However, after showing the meter, the victim went to another room. The applicant followed her to the other room where he outraged her modesty. Thereafter, the victim made hue and cry for help upon which the neighbors came for help. However, in the meantime, the applicant fled. Considering the seriousness of the crime, the applicant does not deserve to be granted bail. 6. I have considered the rival submissions and perused the record. Prima facie, it appears that the allegations are serious in nature. The applicant outraged the modesty of the victim and there is no reason to implicate the applicant in a false crime. Therefore, in my opinion custodial interrogation of the applicant is required. Further, the fact remains that the victim herself has stated in the first information that the accused is a guest at her neighbour’s house Sachin Ramghare who she does not recognize by name. Under such circumstances, I do not find any reason to grant anticipatory bail, hence the 4 23 ABA 694.26 application is rejected. 7. Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of accordingly. ( M. M. NERLIKAR , J.) Gohane Signed by: Mr. J. B. Gohane Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 25/08/2026 17:35:25