MR.ASIF BALECHAND MULLA ) v. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA )

Mr.Kuldeep S. Patil Advocate for the Applicant. Mrs.S.V.Sonawane APP for the State. CORAM: A.M.THIPSAY DATE : 18th APRIL, 2012. P.C. : Heard Mr.Kuldeep Patil, the learned advocate for the applicant. Heard Mrs.S.V.Sonawane, the learned APP for the State. I have gone through the application and the annexures thereto. 2 The applicant is one of the three accused in C.R.No.1 of 2012, registered with Vadgaon Police Station. The said case is in respect of an offence punishable under Section 307 read with 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). Mr.Kuldeep Patil submits that the two other accused had previously made an application for bail, but instead of pressing the same, they chose to withdraw the same. He however submitted that the case of the present applicant, for the purposes of bail, is quite distinct from the other two accused, who did not press the application for bail. BA-538-2012 3 Undoubtedly, there is a prima facie case, to the effect that the applicant was accompanying the other accused and also played an active role in the assault. However, apparently the applicant was not armed. The role attributed to him is only of holding the victim Sandeep and of assaulting him by hands. 4 The applicant did not have any independent motive for assaulting the said Sandeep. The said motive is attributed to the co­accused Chandrakant Yadav. 5 Since the other two accused have allegedly used weapon in the assault and since the present applicant is not alleged to have done so, the case of the applicant can be treated differently from the case of the co­accused for the purposes of bail. There are no antecedents. 6 Mr.Kuldeep Patil submits that if released on bail, the applicant would be ready to abide by a condition that he shall not enter into the local limits of Vadgaon Police Station, District Kolhapur. 7 Considering all the relevant aspects of the matter, I am inclined to grant an opportunity of availing of liberty to the applicant. BA-538-2012 8 The applicant is ordered to be released on bail, in the sum of Rs.30,000/­, with one surety in like amount, on following conditions : 1) The applicant shall not enter the local limits of Vadgaon Police Station, except with the previous permission of the Investigating Officer or the court, till the disposal of the case against him. 2) The applicant shall not contact or approach, any of the prosecution witnesses, in any manner, whatsoever. (A.M.THIPSAY, J.)