25-aba-2703-2021

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.2703 OF 2021

Pradip Manik Aasbe

... Applicant

Vs.

The State of Maharashtra

... Respondent

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Mr.Vikas Balasaheb Shivarkar for the Applicant.

Mr.A.R. Kapadnis, APP for the Respondent –State.

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CORAM : C.V. BHADANG, J.

DATE : 9 FEBRUARY 2022

(Through Video Conferencing)

P.C.

.

The Applicant who is the owner of Shivtej Lodge,

Juna Giranjani Road, Sangram Nagar Solapur, apprehending

arrest in Crime No.755 of 2021 of Akluj Police Station, Solapur

Rural, under Section 3,4,5,6 and 7 of the Immoral Traffic

(Prevention) Act, (‘PITA Act’) is seeking anticipatory bail.

2.

The prosecution case as disclosed from the complaint

lodged by Police Constable Manoj Madhusudan Shinde on 3

October 2021 is that on a prior information a raid was conducted

at Shivtej Lodge of the Applicant at about 3.00 pm, when there

were five to six couples found in different rooms in the lodge

engaged in sexual activities. The investigation disclosed that the

ladies were commercial sex workers and their male partners who

N.S. Kamble page 1 of 2

NILAM

SANTOSH

KAMBLE

Digitally signed by

NILAM SANTOSH

KAMBLE

Date: 2022.02.09

17:47:01 +0530

25-aba-2703-2021

are the co-accused had paid Rs.1,000/- each to the Manager of the

lodge.

3.

I have heard the learned counsel for the Applicant

and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor. Perused record.

4.

The learned counsel for the Applicant submitted that

the addresses of the male partners and their female counterparts

are the same. This according to the learned counsel indicate that

the couples were in illicit relations and ladies were not

commercial sex workers. The contention prima facie can not be

accepted. There are statements recorded of the girls who have

stated that they had come their as commercial sex workers. It is

not disputed that the Applicant is the owner of the lodge.

5.

Thus, no case for grant of pre arrest bail is made out.

The Criminal Application is rejected.

C.V. BHADANG, J.

N.S. Kamble page 2 of 2