Anna Waman Bhalerao vs State Of Maharashtra

Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2025 Supreme(SC) 1685

J. B. PARDIWALA, R. MAHADEVAN
Anna Waman Bhalerao – Appellant
Versus
State Of Maharashtra – Respondent

Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioner(s): Mr. Ardhendhumauli Kumar Prasad, Sr. Adv. Mr. Shantanu Phanse, Adv. Mr. Kaustubh Patil, Adv. Ms. Preet Phanse, Adv. Ms. Vidhi Pankaj Thaker, Adv. Mr. Prastut Mahesh Dalvi, AOR

JUDGMENT :

R. MAHADEVAN, J.

Leave granted in both the SLPs.

2. Both these criminal appeals arise from a common judgment dated 04.07.2025 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay¹[Hereinafter referred to as “the High Court”] in Anticipatory Bail Application Nos.1790 of 2019 and 1844 of 2019, whereby the appellants’ applications seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with F.I.R. No. 30/2019, came to be dismissed.

3. Based on a complaint lodged by one Vikas Narsingh Vartak, FIR No. 30/2019 was registered on 26.01.2019 at Arnala Sagari Police Station, District Palghar, Maharashtra against Mahesh Yashwant Bhoir and others, for offences punishable under Sections 420, 463, 464, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 474 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860²[For short, “IPC”].

3.1. In the complaint, it was alleged that the complainant’s father, Narsingh Govind Vartak died on 29.01.1978. Out of his five brothers, four had died, and one Harihar Govind Vartak was still alive. It was further alleged that the land bearing Survey No. 29, Hissa No. 1 (Old) and Survey No. 233, Hissa No.1(A) (New), admeasuring 1.46 hectares situated at Village Agashi, was jointly owned by Narsingh Govind Vartak,