08-ABA-2223-2026.DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2223 OF 2026 Rajeshree Sudam Chikhale (Rajashree Sudam Chikhale) …Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra & Anr. …Respondents Ms. Mehjabeen Qureshi, for the Applicant. Ms. S. M. Yadav, APP, for the Respondent-State. API Prakash K. Rathod, Yerawada Police Station, Pune City, present. CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J. DATED: 07 SEPTEMBER 2026 PC:- 1. Heard Ms. Qureshi, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant and Ms. Yadav, learned APP, for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra. 2. By this Anticipatory Bail Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.187 of 2026 registered with the Yerawada Police Station, Pune City, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 316(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Page 1 Arjun ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Digitally signed by ARJUN VITTHAL KUDHEKAR Date: 2026.09.07 21:06:02 +0530 08-ABA-2223-2026.DOC 3. It is the submission of Ms. Qureshi, learned Counsel for the Applicant, that the Applicant is not involved in the crime. She submits that the Applicant is the wife of the Co-Accused-Bunty Mahadik, who has been arrested and is presently in custody. She submits that the said Co-Accused-Bunty Mahadik had used the Applicant’s account, into which an amount of Rs.13,65,000/- was deposited. She further submits that thereafter the said amount was immediately transferred to the account of one Aparna Arun Patil, who is the First Informant in FIR No.177 of 2025 registered with Charkop Police Station, Mumbai City. She submits that the said First Informant-Aparna Arun Patil has also filed a Complaint against the Co-Accused-Bunty Mahadik, who is the husband of the present Applicant, alleging that the said Co-Accused had taken an amount of Rs.50,00,000/- from her. 4. On the other hand, Ms. Yadav, learned APP strongly opposes the Anticipatory Bail Application. She submits that the Applicant is involved in the crime as the said amount of Rs.13,65,000/- has been deposited in the account of the Applicant. She, therefore, submits that the Anticipatory Bail Application be dismissed. Page 2 Arjun 08-ABA-2223-2026.DOC 5. The prosecution case is set out in Paragraph No.5 of the Order dated 1st July 2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Pune in Criminal Bail Application No.2804 of 2026, which reads as under: “5. From the appreciation of matter on record, it appears that, C.R. No.187/2026 is registered at Yerwada Police Station, Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 318(4), 204, 336, 337, 3(5) of BNS. From the FIR and the material on record, it appears that, applicant is the wife of co-accused Bunty Mahadik and co-accused and applicant in furtherance of their common intention, allured informant and victim to make investment by misrepresenting that he will get good returns and for that purpose, induced the informant and victim to deliver certain amount in the account of applicant. ...” 6. Perusal of the record shows that the main allegations are against the Co-Accused - Bunty Mahadik, who is the husband of the present Applicant. Admittedly, the said amount of Rs.13,65,000/- which was deposited in the account of the Applicant has been immediately transferred to the account of said Aparna Arun Patil, who has filed the FIR against the Co-Accused i.e. Bunty Mahadik. 7. The Applicant is a woman. There are no other criminal antecedents against the Applicant. Page 3 Arjun 08-ABA-2223-2026.DOC 8. Ms. Qureshi, learned Counsel for the Applicant, states that the Applicant will cooperate with the investigation. 9. Accordingly, case is made out for grant of anticipatory bail. In view thereof, the following Order is passed: O R D E R (a) In the event of arrest of the Applicant - Rajeshree Sudam Chikhale (Rajashree Sudam Chikhale) in connection with CR No.187 of 2026 registered with the Yerawada Police Station, Pune City, the Applicant is directed to be released on bail on her furnishing PR Bond in the sum of Rs.10,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount. (b) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station on 21st September 2026 and 22nd September 2026 between 11:00 am and 02:00 pm and, thereafter, as and when called, till filing of the Charge- sheet. (c) The Applicant shall furnish her cell phone number and residential address to the Investigating Officer and Page 4 Arjun 08-ABA-2223-2026.DOC shall keep the same updated, in case of any change thereto. (d) The Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade such a person from disclosing the facts to the Court or to any Police personnel. (e) The Applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall not contact or influence the Complainant or any witness in any manner. 10. The Anticipatory Bail Application is disposed of accordingly. [MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.] Page 5 Arjun