25-ABA-360-2026.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 360 OF 2026 Ajay Babulal Shah … Applicant Versus. The State Of Maharashtra And Anr. … Respondents ----- Ms. Tanvii Tapkire, for the Applicant. Dr. A. A. Takalkar, APP for the Respondent – State. API Sandip Kamble, Sangli City Police Station, is present. ------- CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J. DATE : 19th August, 2026. P.C. : 1. Heard, Ms. Tanvii Tapkire, learned Advocate for the Applicant and Dr. A. A. Takalkar, learned APP for the Respondent – State. 2. On 13.07.2026 the following order was passed:- 1. Issue notice to the Respondents, returnable on 04.08.2026. Learned APP waives service of notice for Respondents/State. 2. The learned Counsel for the Applicant submits that the Applicant is falsely implicated in the present crime. The amount alleged in the FIR was paid by Dr. Shivajirao Kadam to Vijay Jaykumar and Baldev Singh Bedi towards their consultancy fees for submitting the application for the aforesaid award. The said amount was initially transferred to the bank account of the Informant, who thereafter transferred it to the Arjun 1 25-ABA-360-2026.doc bank account of the Applicant. The Applicant, in turn, transferred the amount to the bank account of Vijay Jaykumar, who paid the remaining amount to Vijay Jaykumar and Baldev Singh Bedi in cash from time to time. . The learned Counsel further submits that the Applicant was protected by the interim order dated 30.03.2026 passed by the learned Sessions Judge during the pendency of the bail application, and the said protection continued to operate until the bail application came to be rejected by order dated 04.07.2026. The Applicant has attended the police station and has cooperated with the investigation. He is further ready to abide by any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. Hence he may be protected. 3. Taking into consideration that the aforesaid submissions, I am inclined to protect the Applicant till the investigation papers are received, subject to certain conditions. Hence the following order: ORDER (a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant - Ajay Babulal Shah in connection with Crime No.99/2026 registered with Sangli City Police Station, District Sangli for the offence punishable under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, he be released on bail on furnishing P.R. bond of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousands) with two solvent sureties in the like amount, on the following conditions: (b) The Applicant is directed to attend Sangli City Police Station, District Sangli on every Friday and Saturday between 11:00 am. to 02:00 pm. and co-operate with the Investigating Officer until further orders. (c) The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and shall not pressurize the prosecution witnesses, in any manner. (d) The Investigating Officer shall make the investigation papers available for perusal of this Court. 4. Needless to say, violation of any of the aforesaid conditions may entitle the prosecution to seek vacation of the interim relief granted herein above. 5. Stand over to 04.08.2026. Arjun 2 25-ABA-360-2026.doc 3. Ms. Tanvii Tapkire, learned Advocate for the Applicant, states that the Applicant has appeared before the Investigating Officer at the Sangli City Police Station and has co-operated with the investigation in Crime No. 99 of 2026. She further states that the Applicant shall appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required and co-operate with the investigation in Crime No. 99 of 2026. 4. Dr. A. A. Takalkar, learned APP for the Respondent – State, on instructions from the Investigating Officer, Sangli City Police Station, states that the Applicant has appeared and co-operated with the investigation in Crime No. 99 of 2026. On further instructions from the Investigating Officer, she states that custodial interrogation of the Applicant is not required in Crime No. 99 of 2026. 5. In view of the statements made by Ms. Tanvii Tapkire, learned Advocate for the Applicant and Dr. A. A. Takalkar, learned APP for the Respondent – State, this Application is allowed by confirming the order dated 13.07.2026 and making the same absolute in terms of bail conditions 3(a) and 3(c), with the following additional conditions:- (a) The Applicant shall appear before the Investigating Officer, Sangli City Police Station, as and Arjun 3 25-ABA-360-2026.doc when required by the Investigating Officer in Crime No. 817 of 2023. (b) The Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person/s acquainted with the facts of the case to dissuade such person/s from disclosing the facts to the Court or any police officer. (c) The Applicant shall provide the Investigating Officer, Sangli City Police Station, with his residential address along with proof, his contact number and must inform the Investigating Officer of any changes to this information from time to time. 6. Criminal Anticipatory Bail Application No. 360 of 2026 is disposed of. (ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.) Arjun 4 ARJUN KRISHNA RODGE Digitally signed by ARJUN KRISHNA RODGE Date: 2026.08.20 10:39:43 +0530