Mumbai, India – March 31, 2022 – A Mumbai Sessions Court today granted bail to Amol Atmaram Shinde, Sunil Dagadu Pagare, and Nitin Shravan Kadam, who were accused in a case involving alleged false and forged documents. The three men, whose previous bail application had been denied, were released after the court noted that the investigation was complete and a charge-sheet had been filed.

Case Background

The case originated from an FIR registered at Colaba Police Station (C.R. No. 373 of 2021). The initial complaint alleged that in Sessions Case No. 786/16, the applicants had submitted false and forged documents to the court, despite the Hon’ble High Court having granted bail. Following this report, a crime was registered, and the applicants were taken into custody. Their initial request for bail before the Metropolitan Magistrate was rejected.

Shift in Circumstances Leads to Bail

During the bail hearing, Ld. Counsel Arun K. Rajput, representing the applicants, informed the court that a prior bail application (No. 115/22) had been denied because the investigation was still ongoing. However, Mr. Rajput highlighted a crucial change: the investigation was now complete, and the Investigating Officer had filed a charge-sheet against the applicants in the Metropolitan Magistrate’s court.

Mr. Rajput assured the court that his clients, who are residents of Mumbai, were prepared to cooperate fully with the trial proceedings and would adhere to any conditions imposed by the court.

Prosecution’s Stance

Ld. APP Erande, representing the State, opposed the bail application, arguing that since the court had previously rejected bail, and given the serious nature of the alleged offenses, there were no new circumstances that warranted their release.

Court’s Rationale for Granting Bail

His Honour Additional Sessions Judge Shri. Milind A. Bhosale acknowledged that the previous bail application had indeed been rejected due to the ongoing investigation. However, the Investigating Officer’s confirmation that the investigation was complete and a charge-sheet filed proved to be a pivotal factor.

Judge Bhosale stated that “When charge-sheet is filed then it should be presumed that investigation in the present crime is over.” He further noted that if the accused were involved in the crime, the trial would be the “best option to fix the responsibility.” Recognizing that the trial process would take time, the Judge found no compelling reason in the prosecution’s reply to refuse bail at this stage.

Conditions for Release

Consequently, the court allowed Bail Application No. 692 of 2022. Amol Atmaram Shinde, Sunil Dagadu Pagare, and Nitin Shravan Kadam are to be released upon furnishing a Personal Recognizance (PR) Bond of Rs. 50,000/- each, along with solvent sureties of the same amount.

The court also imposed specific conditions:

• They are prohibited from leaving the local jurisdiction until the conclusion of the trial.
• They must submit their detailed address to the Ld. Metropolitan Magistrate, 8th Court, Esplanade.
• The bail formalities are to be completed before the Ld. Metropolitan Magistrate.

With this order, Bail Application No. 692 of 2022 has been disposed of.