Bombay High Court
Bharat Baliram Patil vs The State Of Maharashtra And Ors on 8 January, 2024
Author: Revati Mohite Dere
Bench: Revati Mohite Dere
2024:BHC-AS:1113-DB
NISHA Digitally signed by NISHA
SANDEEP CHITNIS
SANDEEP Date: 2024.01.11
CHITNIS 11:40:26 +0530 18-ia.2700.2021.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
INTERIM APPLICATION NO.2700 OF 2021
IN
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.425 OF 2018
Bharat Baliram Patil ...Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra and Ors. ...Respondents
Mr. Kuldeep Patil i/b Mr. Vivek V. Salunke, for the Applicant.
Mr. V. B. Konde-Deshmukh, Addl.P.P for the Respondent - State.
CORAM : REVATI MOHITE DERE &
MANJUSHA DESHPANDE, JJ.
DATE : 8th JANUARY 2024
P.C. :
1. Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. By this interim application, the applicant (original accused
No.9) seeks suspension of his sentence and enlargement on bail,
pending the hearing and final disposal of the aforesaid appeal.
3. Learned Counsel for the applicant seeks bail on the ground
of parity. He submits that identically placed co-accused have either
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been released by the Apex Court or by this Court, having regard to the
long period of their incarceration ranging between 8 to 10 years. The
said orders have been annexed to this application and one of the last
order is tendered across the bar i.e. the order dated 20 th December
2023 passed by this Court (Coram: Prakash D. Naik & N. R. Borkar,
JJ.) in an application filed by co-accused - Ranbul @Ranshya
Chandrakant Patil.
4. Learned APP does not dispute the fact that the applicant is
in custody for about 10 years from 2012, except the period when the
applicant was out on Covid bail i.e. for a period of 1 1/2 year.
5. Perused the papers as well as the orders passed by the Apex
Court and this Court.
6. The applicant (original accused No.13) alongwith other co-
accused vide judgment and order dated 7th March 2018, passed by
learned District Judge - 2 and Additional Sessions Judge, Kalyan, in
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Sessions Case No.24 of 2013, has been convicted for the offence
punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and other
offences. The Apex Court as well as this Court have granted bail to
the co-accused in the said case, only having regard to their long
incarceration and the likelihood of their appeal not reaching in the
immediate near future.
7. As far as the applicant is concerned, the accusation is
general in nature and no specific overt act is attributed to him. The
role of the applicant is similar to that of other co-accused, whose
sentences have been suspended and who are enlarged on bail.
8. Considering the aforesaid, the application is allowed and
the applicant's sentence is suspended and he is enlarged on bail,
pending the hearing and final disposal of his Appeal, on the following
terms and conditions :-
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ORDER
i) The Applicant be enlarged on bail on furnishing P.R. Bond in
the sum of Rs.25,000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount;
ii) The Applicant shall report to the trial Court, once in three
months on the first Saturday between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., till
his Appeal is finally disposed of;
iii) The Applicant shall keep the trial Court informed of his
current address and mobile contact number and/or change of
residence or mobile details, if any, from time to time;
iv) If there are two consecutive defaults in appearing before the
trial Court, the learned Judge shall make a report to the High Court
and the prosecution would be at liberty to file an application seeking
cancellation of bail.
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9. The Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms and is
accordingly disposed of.
10. All concerned to act on the authenticated copy of this
order.
MANJUSHA DESHPANDE, J. REVATI MOHITE DERE, J.
