917-ABA-2328-2026.odt Harish IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 2328 OF 2026 Ranjan Kumar Yadav ...Applicant V/S. The State Of Maharashtra And Anr. ...Respondents _____________________________________________________________ Adv. Shubham Shirsat i/b Vishal M Deshmukh, for the Applicant. Adv. Megha S Bajoria, APP for the Respondent – State. PSI - Anupama Patil, (Pairavi Officer), Sakinaka Police Station is present. ________________________________________________________ CORAM : PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J. DATE : 03RD SEPTEMBER, 2026. P.C. :- 1. Heard learned counsel for the applicant as well as learned APP for the respondent-state. 2. The applicant has filed the instant application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking pre- 1/5 917-ABA-2328-2026.odt arrest bail in Crime No. 138 of 2026 dated 12.02.2026, registered with Sakinaka Police Station, Bhihanmumbai, for the offence punishable under Sections 144(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3, 4 and 4 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. 3. The offence is registered on the basis of a report lodged by the complainant alleging that some secret information was received intimating that a person by name Gulab Yadav was running a brothel and providing girls for prostitution. It is alleged in the report that after receipt of information in this regard a dummy customer was sent to the concerned hotel and subsequently raid was conducted. The police apprehended the victim woman with dummy customer and thereafter, the offence came to be registered. 4. Learned counsel for applicant submits that there is no material to show that this applicant was engaged in any act in the nature of exploitation of trafficked person attracting section 144 of BNS. Apart from this he submits that investigation in this matter is almost complete and even charge-sheet is filed against the accused person by name Akash Kumar alias Guddu Chandar Ram. He also 2/5 917-ABA-2328-2026.odt states that the wife of the applicant had already been released on anticipatory bail by order dated 6th July 2026 in ABA No. 819 of 2026. He submits that considering the nature of allegations and offence and since the investigation has been completed, his presence can be secured by directing him to attend the police station and extend co-operation to the investigating agency. 5. Learned counsel for the applicant submitted that in accordance with the interim protection order granted by this Court on 18th August, 2026, the applicant has attended the police station and has joined the investigation. In view of the interim protection and the fact that the charge-sheet is already filed, he prays for confirmation of the interim protection. 6. Learned APP for the respondent had opposed the application and submitted that there is material to show that this applicant and Gulab Yadav are the same persons who has received certain amounts in his account and there is material to show that he is involved in the alleged offence. However, it is not disputed that the applicant has attended the police station on the date assigned and the charge-sheet is already filed. 3/5 917-ABA-2328-2026.odt 7. Perused the FIR and the documents placed on record. On consideration of the allegations in the FIR, it appears that prima facie, at this stage, there is no material to show that this applicant has actually engaged in any act of exploitation of trafficked persons attracting Section 144 of BNS. Apart from this, it has to be noted that investigation in the matter is over and charge-sheet is already filed. Further since the applicant has attended the police station on several dates and is ready to extend cooperation as regards investigation against him, the custodial interrogation of this applicant need not be insisted. Considering all these aspects, the interim protection granted to the applicant needs to be confirmed, subject to certain conditions. 8. Hence, I pass the following order . : ORDER : (i) The Anticipatory Bail Application is allowed. (ii) In the event of arrest of the applicant in Crime No. 138 of 2026 dated 12.02.2026, registered with Sakinaka Police Station, Bhihanmumbai, for the offence punishable 4/5 917-ABA-2328-2026.odt under Sections 144(2) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3, 4 and 4 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, he be released on bail on furnishing P. R. Bond of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with one solvent surety of the like amount. (iii) The applicant is directed to continue to extend cooperation as regards investigation against him. (iv) The applicant is directed to attend the police station as and when called upon by the investigating agency. (v) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly influence the prosecution witnesses. 9. In view of this, the instant application is allowed and disposed of. (PRAFULLA S. KHUBALKAR, J.) 5/5