25-BA-515-2026 (CR).docx IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLN. NO. 515 OF 2026 Maruti Shivappa Belaj … Applicant Versus. The State of Maharashtra & Anr. … Respondents ----- Ms. Archana Gaikwad i/b. Mr. Anilkumar T. Matle for the Applicant. Mr. Nitin B. Patil, A.P.P. for the Respondents-State. Officer : ASI Ashok M. Patil, Gadhinglaj Police Station, present. ------ Coram : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J. Date : 8th September 2026. PER COURT : 1. Heard, Ms. Archana Gaikwad, learned Advocate for the Applicant and Mr. Nitin Patil, learned APP for the Respondents-State. 2. By the present Application, the Applicant has sought the following substantive relief : “a. This Hon'ble Court may kindly enlarge the Applicant on Bail, in connection with C. R. (FIR) No. 156 of 2024 registered at Gadhinglaj Police Station, Kolhapur on such terms and conditions as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper.” osk 1 of 4 25-BA-515-2026 (CR).docx 3. Ms. Archana Gaikwad, learned Advocate for the Applicant, states that Crime No. 156 of 2024 is registered as Sessions Case No. 16 of 2024 and is pending before the Additional Sessions Judge, Gadhinglaj (“Trial Court”), for trial. 4. At the outset, Mr. Nitin Patil, learned APP for the Respondent-State, on instructions from the Investigating Officer in Crime No. 156 of 2024 registered with Gadhinglaj Police Station, states that the prosecution has, to date, examined five (5) prosecution witnesses in Sessions Case No. 16 of 2024. He further, on instructions from the Investigating Officer, states that although the prosecution has enlisted twenty-five (25) witnesses, it intends to restrict the number of witnesses to be examined in Sessions Case No. 16 of 2024 to nine (9) more. He submits that these nine (9) witnesses will be examined within nine (9) months from the next date fixed in Sessions Case No. 16 of 2024 (i.e. 9th September 2026). He submits that upon completion of the examination of these nine (9) witnesses, the Applicant may be granted leave to file a fresh Bail Application before the Trial Court. 5. Based on the statement made by Mr. Nitin Patil, learned APP for the Respondents-State, as recorded in the preceding paragraph, Ms. Archana Gaikwad, learned Advocate for the Applicant, on instructions from the Applicant, seeks leave to withdraw the present Bail Application and to file a osk 2 of 4 25-BA-515-2026 (CR).docx fresh Bail Application in Sessions Case No. 16 of 2024, upon the examination of the further nine (9) witnesses as stated by Mr. Nitin Patil. She requests liberty to file the fresh Bail Application after a period of nine (9) months from 9th September 2026, in the event the prosecution fails to examine the said nine (9) witnesses. 6. Mr. Nitin Patil, learned APP for the Respondents-State, does not oppose the liberty request made by Ms. Archana Gaikwad, learned Advocate for the Applicant. 7. Prosecution in Sessions Case No. 16 of 2024 to abide by the statement made by Mr. Nitin Patil, learned APP for the Respondents-State. 8. In view of the statement made by Ms. Archana Gaikwad, learned Advocate for the Applicant, leave is granted to withdraw this Bail Application with liberty to file a fresh Bail Application before the Trial Court upon examination of the further nine (9) witnesses in Sessions Case No. 16 of 2024, as stated by Mr. Nitin Patil, learned APP for the Respondents-State, or upon expiry of the period of nine (9) months from 9th September 2026, if the prosecution is unable to complete the examination of the said nine (9) prosecution witnesses. osk 3 of 4 25-BA-515-2026 (CR).docx 9. If a fresh bail application is filed before the Trial Court after the period referred to in the preceding paragraph, the same be considered on its own merits and in accordance with law. 10. Criminal Bail Application No. 515 of 2026 is disposed of as withdrawn. [ ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J. ] osk 4 of 4 OMKAR SHIVAHAR KUMBHAKARN Digitally signed by OMKAR SHIVAHAR KUMBHAKARN Date: 2026.09.09 13:16:07 +0530