IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO.3173 OF 2025 Digitally signed by ARJUN ARJUN VITTHAL Rangrao Anandrao alias Ananda Khondre …Applicant VITTHAL KUDHEKAR KUDHEKAR Date: Versus

2026.02.09

22:39:49 The State of Maharashtra & Anr. …Respondents +0530 Mr. Abhishek T. Ingale, for the Applicant.

Mr. S. M. Mangaonkar, APP, for the Respondent-State.

Ms. Sairuchita Chowdhary a/w Aakash R. Pandey, for Respondent No.2.

P.S.I. Kashiraj Vitthal Jadhav, Baramati Taluka Police Station, Pune Rural, present.

CORAM: MADHAV J. JAMDAR, J.

DATED: 05 FEBRUARY 2026 PC:-

1. Heard Mr. Ingale, learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant, Mr. Mangaonkar, learned APP for the Respondent-State of Maharashtra and Ms. Chowdhary, learned Counsel appearing for Respondent No.2.

2. By the present Anticipatory Bail Application filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Applicant is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with CR No.172 of 2025 registered with the Baramati Police Station, Pune Rural, for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 318(2), 318(3), 318(4), 319(2), 351(2), 351(3), 336(2), 336(3) and 3(5)

of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

3. The prosecution case is set out in Paragraph No.2 of the Common Order dated 13th June 2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Baramati, District-Pune in Criminal Bail Application No.418 of 2025 and Criminal Bail Application No.419 of 2025 filed by the Accused No.1 i.e. present Applicant and Accused No.2, which reads as under :-

“2. As per FIR the prosecution story is as follows:-

The informant lodged report, alleging that, Nandini Agrotech Private Limited is a company engaged in Milk business and its allied products. Informant Sau. Padmini Sonawane is a director of said company. Mr. Chandrashekhar Laxman Sonawane is another director of the company. In the month of January 2024 Mr. Chandrashekhar Sonawane became acquainted with Rangrao Anandrao Alias Ananda Khondre (Accused No.1/applicant) and Mr. Vipul Vikas Kulkarni (Accused No.2/applicant) out of business transactions. Accused No.1/applicant represented to Mr. Chandrashekhar Sonawane that, he runs a company at Kolhapur and he may be taken as an additional director in the company of informant, for expansion of business and progress of the company. He also assured that, he is ready to invest non- refundable capital amounts, and he will remain nominal director. Accordingly, accused No.1 taken as an additional director in Nandini Agrotech Pvt. Ltd.. So as to win over confidence of both directors, accused No.1 had paid an amount of Rs. 83,00,000/- towards capital.

While acting as additional director accused no. 1 gave proposal that, we would arrange capital upto Rs. 10 Crores, 20 Crores for expansion of business of the company. Both directors neglected said proposal. Again in the month of June 2024 accused No.1 personally visited office of company at Baramati and had a discussion with both the directors for expansion of business of company. He gave proposal to start new plant of company at village – Nigve Dumala, Tal. Karveer, Dist. Kolhapur. He also made representation that, Mr. Vipul Vikas Kulkarni - the proprietor of V.R. Traders (Accused No.2) is ready to invest an amount of Rs.2,44,00,000/-. He also made representation that, there is huge collection of milk in the area of Nigve Dumala. Believing the words of accused No.1 company of informant became ready to open new plant. Thereafter, during period of 01/07/2023 to 09/07/2023 as per instructions of accused No.1, accused No.2 had transferred an amount of Rs.2,44,00,000/- in the account of company of informant. It is further alleged that, accused No.1 made representation to both directors of company that, he had selected the plot for new plant of company at Nigve Dumala and for purchasing plot as well as he is in need of money for purchase of machinery, other articles for said plant. Believing th