Bombay High Court
Ravindra Govinda Musale And 10 Others vs The State Of Maharashtra Through Pso Ps ... on 14 October, 2024
2024:BHC-NAG:11647
J.54.cri.appeal.372.24.odt 1/6
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY,
NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.372 OF 2024
1. Ravindra Govinda Musale,
Age 53 years,
Profession Agriculture
2. Surendra Vishwanath Salve,
Age 45 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
3. Dyaneshwar Namdev Dakhre
Age 46 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
4. Kisan Govinda Musale,
Age 59 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
5. Srihari Abaji Dakhre,
Age 53 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
6. Maheshwar Srihari Dakhre,
Age 35 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
7. Ganesh Dadaji Salve,
Age 35 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
8. Rajendra Kisan Salve,
Age 40 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
9. Ashish Bandu Janekar,
Age 29 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
10. Ajay Shamrao Dakhre,
Age 34 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
11. Vinod Bhauji More,
Age 42 years, Occupation - Agriculture,
All Resident of Murti, Taluka Rajura,
District Chandrapur
...APPELLANTS
J.54.cri.appeal.372.24.odt 2/6
VERSUS
1. State of Maharashtra,
through Police Station Officer,
Police Station Virur,
District Chandrapur
2. Pandit Bhaurao Devgade
Aged about 40 years,
R/o Murthy, Taluka Rajura,
District Chandrapur
...RESPONDENTS
_______________________________________________________
Mr. R.R. Vyas, Advocate for the appellants.
Ms Shamsi Haider, APP for the State.
_______________________________________________________
CORAM : URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.
DATED : OCTOBER 14, 2024.
ORAL JUDGMENT :
ADMIT. Heard finally with the consent of learned Counsel
for the parties.
2. By preferring this appeal, the appellants have challenged the
order dated 09/07/2024 passed by the Additional Sessions
Judge/Special Judge, Chandrapur in Anticipatory Bail Application
No.439/2024 by which the anticipatory bail application of the present
appellants was rejected.
3. The appellants are apprehending the arrest at the hands of
police in connection with Crime No.136/2024 registered at police station
J.54.cri.appeal.372.24.odt 3/6
Virur, District Chandrapur for the offence punishable under Section 143
of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(va) of
the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,
1989 (for short 'the Atrocities Act').
4. The accusation against the present appellants is on the basis
of report lodged by Pandit Bhaurao Devgade alleging that he belongs to
the scheduled caste and residing at village Murti, Taluka Rajura, District
Chandrapur, in the village there was a construction of Hanuman Temple.
On 22/03/2024 at about 9.00 a.m. he was returning from agricultural
field towards his house, at that time, all the appellants were found
digging the place near the said temple and also constructing the fencing
at that place, therefore, he restrained them, on that they have abused
him on his caste. On the basis of said report, police have registered the
crime against the present appellants. After registration of the crime, the
appellants approached to the Special Court for grant of bail but the same
was rejected. He submitted that omnibus statement is made by the
informant. There is no specific allegation against any one of them.
Considering the nature of the allegation, there is only reference of the
caste under the provisions of the Atrocities Act. He submitted that in
view of the general statement made by the informant, bar under Section
18 of the Atrocities Act is not attracted and custodial interrogation of the
J.54.cri.appeal.372.24.odt 4/6
present appellants is not required. In view of that, the interim protection
granted to the appellants deserves to be confirmed.
5. Learned APP strongly opposed the said appeal on the
ground that all the appellants have abused him on his caste and
therefore, there is a prima facie case and bar under Section 18 is
attracted. In view of that, the order passed by the learned Special Court
is correct and not interference is called for.
6. After service of the notice, none appears for respondent
No.2.
7. I have heard learned Counsel for both the parties. Perused
the recitals of the FIR from which it reveals that the FIR is lodged after
one and half months of the incident and there is no explanation put
forth for the said delayed FIR. The alleged incident has taken place on
22/03/2024 whereas the FIR is lodged on 08/05/2024. The nature of
the allegation is that the omnibus statement is made against all the
appellants, there is no specific allegation against any of them and that
statement is only to the extent of reference of the caste. The nature of
the allegation is that the appellants have abused him on his caste. It is
now well settled that when prima facie case is not made out then
anticipatory bail can be entertained. Whether there is a prima facie case
or not is to be ascertained from the investigation papers. At this stage,
J.54.cri.appeal.372.24.odt 5/6
considering the omnibus statement against all the appellants, the appeal
deserves to be allowed. Moreover, mere reference of the caste is not
sufficient to attract the provisions of the Atrocities Act. Accordingly, I
proceed to pass the following order:
(i) The appeal is allowed.
(ii) The order passed by the Additional Sessions
Judge/Special Judge, Chandrapur in Anticipatory Bail
Application No.439/2024 dated 09/07/2024 is hereby
quashed and set aside.
(iii) In the event of arrest, the appellants - 1) Ravindra
Govinda Musale, 2) Surendra Vishwanath Salve, 3)
Dyaneshwar Namdev Dakhre, 4) Kisan Govinda Musale, 5)
Srihari Abaji Dakhre, 6) Maheshwar Srihari Dakhre, 7)
Ganesh Dadaji Salve, 8) Rajendra Kisan Salve, 9) Ashish
Bandu Janekar, 10) Ajay Shamrao Dakhre and 11) Vinod
Bhauji More in connection with Crime No.136/2024
registered at police station Virur, District Chandrapur for the
offence punishable under Section 143 of the Indian Penal
Code and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(va) of the
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act, 1989, be released on anticipatory bail on
J.54.cri.appeal.372.24.odt 6/6
executing a P.R.Bond in the sum of Rs.25,000/- each with
one solvent surety each, in the like amount.
(iv) The appellants shall attend the office of
Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Gadchandur as and when
required for the investigation purpose and shall cooperate
with the investigating agency.
(v) The appellants shall furnish their Cell phone number
and address with address proof before the Investigating
Officer.
(vi) The appellants shall not directly or indirectly make
any inducement and threat or promise to any person
acquainted with the facts of the present case.
8. The appeal is disposed of.
(URMILA JOSHI-PHALKE, J.)
*Divya
