1 45-Cr.BA-1091-2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR. CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1091 OF 2026 Rameshwar s/o Vishnu Chaudhari -- VERSUS -- The State of Maharashtra __________________________________________________________________________ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders. and Registrar's Orders. Mr. S.P. Sonwane, a/w. Mr. A.A. Thakur, Advocates for the Applicant. Ms. S.N. Thakur, A.P.P. for the Non-applicant/State. Ms. Anjana Motiram Raut, Advocate for Assist to Prosecution. CORAM : M.M. NERLIKAR, J. DATE : AUGUST 28, 2026. CRIMINAL APPLICATION [APPP] NO. 2905/2026: For the reasons stated in the application, the application is allowed and disposed of. The other side has no objection. CRIMINAL APPLICATION [B.A.] NO. 1091/2026: Heard. 2. The present application is filed seeking regular bail in Crime No.514/2026 for the offence punishable under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, registered with Police Station Arni, District Yavatmal. Piyush Mahajan 2026:BHC-NAG:11300 2 45-Cr.BA-1091-2026 3. The First Information Report was lodged by the informant, father of deceased, namely, Smt. Sakshi Abhay Choudhary, alleging that after her marriage with Accused No.1 on 25/01/2026, she was subjected to physical and mental harassment by her husband, in-laws and sister-in-law in connection with a demand for dowry. It was further alleged that she was not permitted to communicate with her parental family and was subjected to threats and abusive treatment by the accused persons. The informant stated that on 20/06/2026, Accused No.2 informed him that Sakshi had died by hanging herself. On reaching the matrimonial house, the informant allegedly found her hanging with an odhni. Based on these allegation, First Information Report came to be lodged. 4. The learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is the father-in-law of the deceased. He submits that, sweeping allegations have been made in the F.I.R. regarding the demand of dowry. Wherein, the marriage was solemnized on 25/01/2026. He submits that the suicide note was suppressed by the Investigating Officer, and the same was placed on record only after filing of the charge- sheet. In the submissions, it was posed before this Court that, the deceased’s death may be a case of Piyush Mahajan 3 45-Cr.BA-1091-2026 suicide or murder. However, he submits that when the findings in the post-mortem report and the final opinion of the Doctor indicates that the death was suicide in nature. Further, in the suicide note, wherein the deceased specifically stated that no one is responsible for her death. On the contrary, the learned counsel submits that it was stated in the suicide note, “I love you Abhayji miss you stay Happy.” All these factors show that the deceased had committed suicide for an unknown reason. Under such circumstances, he submits that the Investigating Officer has tried to mislead the Court. 5. On the other hand, the learned A.P.P. and the learned counsel appearing for assist to prosecution vehemently oppose the application and submit that, so far as the allegations in the F.I.R. are concerned, they are serious in nature. Seven years have not been completed for the marriage, under such circumstances, the presumption would attract. She further submits that the charge-sheet shows that the offence which is registered under Section 80(2) of the BNS is dowry death. She further submits that, though there is a suicide note, considering the allegations in the F.I.R. and the material collected during the investigation, it shows that the applicant and other family members have consistently harassed Piyush Mahajan 4 45-Cr.BA-1091-2026 the deceased, and accordingly, she committed suicide, and therefore, they submit that the application deserves to be rejected. 6. I have considered the rival submissions. An inquiry has been made by the Investigating Officer in respect of the injuries on the deceased, wherein the opinion has been given, and in Clause No. 4, it is stated that the findings in the post- mortem report are suicidal in nature. It is further to be noted that, after perusal of the suicide note, it is crystal clear that, for unknown reasons, the deceased has committed suicide and has not held anybody responsible. Under such circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that a case is made out for granting bail by imposing stringent conditions. Hence, the following order: O R D E R (i) The Criminal Application is allowed; (ii) The applicant / accused (Rameshwar s/o Vishnu Chaudhari) be released on regular bail in connection with Crime No.514/2026 for the offence punishable under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, registered with Police Station Arni, Piyush Mahajan 5 45-Cr.BA-1091-2026 District Yavatmal, on his furnishing a P.R. bond of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) with two solvent sureties in the like amount; (iii) The accused shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case, and also shall not tamper with the evidence; (iv) The accused shall provide his residential address and cell number to the Police Station concerned and shall not change his place of residence without prior intimation to the Investigating Agency; (v) Once the trial commences, the accused shall attend each and every date of trial regularly. If he fails to attend the trial, or fails to comply with the aforesaid conditions, his default would entail the State to ask for cancellation of bail; (vi) The observations of this Court are prima facie in nature. The Trial Court shall not be influenced by the same; (vii) Pending Misc. Application(s), if any, also stand disposed of. [ M.M. NERLIKAR, J ] Piyush Mahajan Signed by: Piyush Ramesh Mahajan Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 29/08/2026 12:22:01