35.BA.1580.2026.doc Ajay IN IN THE THE HIGH HIGH COURT COURT OF OF JUDICATURE JUDICATURE AT AT BOMBAY BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO. 1580 OF 2026 Naeem Akhatar Sageer Ahmad .. Applicant Versus State of Maharashtra and Anr. .. Respondents ....................  Mr. Niranjan Mundargi, Advocate i/by Ms. Keral Mehta for Applicant.  Ms. Mankuwar M. Deshmukh, APP for Respondent – State. ......…........... CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J. DATE : SEPTEMBER 21, 2026. P.C.: 1. Heard Mr. Mundargi, learned Advocate for Applicant and Ms. Deshmukh, learned APP for Respondent – State. 2. This is an Application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) seeking regular bail in connection with C.R.No.181 of 2025 registered with Pawarwadi Police Station, District Nashik for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2), 316(4), 316(5) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNS’). 3. Mr. Mundargi, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of Applicant in the present Bail Application No.1580 of 2026. The case of Applicant is pleaded on the ground of parity and a strong circumstance has been shown by learned Mr. Mundargi emanating from the Affidavit 1 of 5 35.BA.1580.2026.doc filed by the prosecution pursuant to directions contained in paragraph No.6 of the order dated 24.08.2026 qua the present case. On page No.1646 - Exhibit ‘D’, the name of Applicant having appended his signature alongwith the other teachers in September 2018 has been produced by the prosecution itself. Further, even during the following year up to 2019, the said muster roll has been produced which is appended from page No.1646 to page No.1653 of the Application. 4. Though Ms. Deshmukh, learned APP vehemently argues and submits that the same has been produced to show that Applicant had simultaneously signed in the muster roll of the teachers maintained by the Institution and also at the same time he was undertaking his B.Ed. education and he had also signed in the college where he was taking such education, prima facie, for the sake of grant of bail, I refuse to accept the case of the prosecution. 5. The complicity of Applicant as to whether the signature in the attendance sheet that has been placed before me by the prosecution was fabricated or otherwise or the fact that he had never signed, can undoubtedly be proved at trial. For the sake of grant of bail, it is prima facie enough if it is shown from the record that during the contentious period the Applicant had signed the muster roll and worked in the Institution. 6. Considering the aforesaid reason and ground on parity with 2 of 5 35.BA.1580.2026.doc the other two co-accused similarly placed teachers in Bail Application No.1355 of 2026 and the order passed on 24.08.2026, Applicant in the present Bail Application No.1580 of 2026 is released on bail. 7. Hence, in view of above prima facie observations and findings, Bail Application of Applicant is allowed subject to the following terms and conditions:- (i) Applicant – Naeem Akhatar Sageer Ahmad is directed to be immediately released from prison in connection with CR. No.181 of 2025; (ii) Applicant is directed to be released on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs.15,000/- (Rs. Fifteen Thousand only) with one or two sureties in the like amount; (iii) Applicant shall report to the Investigating Officer at Pawarwadi Police Station, once every month, on the first Sunday of the month between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. until commencement of trial and thereafter shall attend all dates of hearing before the Trial Court; (iv) Applicant shall cooperate with the conduct of the trial and remain present before the Trial Court on all dates, unless specifically exempted. Applicant shall not seek 3 of 5 35.BA.1580.2026.doc unnecessary adjournments. Any such conduct shall entitle the prosecution to apply for cancellation of bail; (v) Applicant shall not leave the State of Maharashtra without prior permission of the Trial Court; (vi) Applicant shall not influence any of the witnesses or tamper with the evidence in any manner; (vii) Applicant shall keep the Investigating Officer informed of his current residential address and mobile telephone number and shall forthwith inform the Investigating Officer of any change in his residential address or mobile telephone number, as and when such change occurs; and (viii)Any breach or infraction of any of the aforesaid conditions shall entail cancellation of the bail granted to the Applicant. 8. It is clarified that the observations made in this order are limited for the purpose of granting bail only and I have not made any observations on merits of the case. The trial shall be adjudicated on the strength of the evidence led and strictly on its own merits being uninfluenced with any of the prima facie observations made hereinabove in this order. 4 of 5 35.BA.1580.2026.doc 9. Bail Application is allowed and disposed in the above terms. [ MILIND N. JADHAV, J. ] Ajay 5 of 5 AJAY TRAMBAK UGALMUGALE Digitally signed by AJAY TRAMBAK UGALMUGALE Date: 2026.09.21 15:12:21 +0530