[Cites 4, Cited by 0]
Bombay High Court
Geet Ramesh Bhandari vs The State Of Maharashtra on 6 April, 2026
Author: R.N. Laddha
Bench: R.N. Laddha
Digitally
signed by
CHITRA
CHITRA SANJAY
2026:BHC-AS:16265 SANJAY
SONAWANE
SONAWANE
Date:
2026.04.06
18:12:34
+0530
Chitra Sonawane. 13-ABA-599-2026.docx
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
Anticipatory Bail Application No.599 of 2026
Geet Ramesh Bhandari
Aged 35 years, Occu: Business
Residing at A 101, Naraan Nagar
Apartment, Ashoka Marg, Nashik
Dist- Nashik - 422011 ... Applicant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra
(At the instance of Koregaon Park
Police Station vide their CR No.133
of 2025) ... Respondent.
----
Mr Prabhanjay Dave, a/w Mr Tanmay Tendulkar, for the
applicant.
Ms Sangeeta E Phad, APP, for the respondent/ State.
----
Coram: R.N. Laddha, J.
Date: 6 April 2026.
P.C.:
By this application, the applicant seeks pre-arrest bail in
connection with CR No.133 of 2025, registered at Koregaon
Park Police Station, Pune, for offences punishable under
Sections 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,
1956, and Sections 143(3) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
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2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that upon receipt of
confidential information regarding women allegedly being
coerced into prostitution for monetary gain, a raid was
conducted at 'The Heaven Hotel' in Pune. During the raid,
three women were found engaged in prostitution along with a
customer. At that time, the applicant was the licensee of the
said Hotel.
3. Mr Prabhanjay Dave, the learned Counsel appearing on
behalf of the applicant, asserts the applicant's innocence and
submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the
present crime. Inviting the attention of this Court to the leave
and licence agreement, it is contended that although the hotel
was taken on licence by the applicant and his business partner,
its day-to-day operations were managed by the co-accused,
Aditya Singh. It is further submitted that the applicant, being a
resident of Nashik, had no knowledge of the alleged illegal
activities and has been made a scapegoat. It is urged that the
charge sheet has already been filed against the co-accused, the
statements of the victims have been recorded, and the victims
have been released; thus, nothing further remains to be
recovered or discovered. The investigation is substantially
complete, and custodial interrogation of the applicant is
unwarranted. The applicant undertakes to abide by any
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conditions that may be imposed by this Court.
4. On the other hand, Ms Sangeeta Phad, the learned
Additional Public Prosecutor representing the respondent/
State, opposing the application, argues that the offence is of a
serious nature. The victims were found at the scene while
committing illegal activity on the premises. The applicant is the
owner of the Hotel. The learned APP also raised concerns
about potential evidence tampering and witness influence if the
applicant were granted pre-arrest bail.
5. This Court has given anxious consideration to the rival
contentions and perused the records.
6. Upon perusing the records, it appears that the applicant,
along with the co-accused, Jash Thakkar, had entered into a
leave and license agreement to run the business of the said
Hotel. The hotel appears to have been managed by the co-
accused Aditya. The applicant is a resident of Nashik and was
not present at the time of the raid. The record does not suggest
that the applicant was aware of the alleged illegal activities that
took place on the premises. The victims, who are adults, have
not levelled any allegations against the applicant; rather, their
statements attribute coercion to one Rahul. It is also pertinent
that the co-accused have already been enlarged on bail, and the
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applicant has no criminal antecedents. The investigation is
complete, and nothing further remains to be recovered or
discovered from the applicant.
7. In light of the foregoing, this Court is inclined to exercise
its discretion in favour of the applicant. Hence, the following
order:
ORDER
(i) In the event of the applicant's arrest in
connection with CR No.133 of 2025,
registered at Koregaon Park Police Station,
Pune, he shall be released on bail upon
executing a PR Bond of Rs.25,000/- and
furnishing one or more sureties in the like
amount.
(ii) The applicant shall attend the concerned
police station as and when required till filing
of the charge sheet.
(iii) The applicant, himself or through any
other person, shall not tamper with the
evidence or influence witnesses.
8. The application stands disposed of accordingly.
[R.N. Laddha, J.]
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6 April 2026
