Mumbai: Ramakant Bhagoji Dongre, 45, arrested in connection with Crime No. 28 of 2018 at the instance of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Mumbai, has been granted bail by the Special Judge (Under the Prevention of Corruption Act) for Greater Mumbai, Shri S.J. Biyani. The order, issued on July 24, 2018, allows Dongre’s release on a personal recognizance (PR) bond of Rs. 20,000 with one or two solvent sureties of the like amount.

Dongre, a resident of Nasik, had filed Bail Application No. 482 of 2018, seeking his release. His advocate, Mr. Girish Kulkarni, argued that Dongre was innocent and falsely implicated, asserting that nothing further remained to be recovered from him as he was already in police and then judicial custody. He also highlighted that voice samples had already been taken.

The prosecution, represented by Learned APP Mr. S.D. Gonsalvis and the Investigating Officer (IO), opposed the application. They contended that the crime was at a primary stage of investigation, with further inquiry needed regarding cash found in Dongre’s hand-bag and drawer, the involvement of any other accused, and the recording of witness statements.

However, after perusing the case papers and hearing both sides, Special Judge S.J. Biyani observed that Dongre had already been remanded to police custody and then judicial custody. The court noted that while bribe money and other cash were recovered, the primary concern in bail applications is the possibility of tampering with or threatening prosecution witnesses, or the likelihood of the accused committing further offenses or influencing witnesses.

The judge specifically pointed out that in this case, the majority of the witnesses are public servants, which would mitigate the risk of tampering. Regarding the prosecution’s concerns about recording witness statements and inquiring about the cash and potential co-accused, the court concluded that these investigative steps could be carried out by imposing suitable conditions on the accused, without hindering the investigation.

Finding no compelling reason to keep Dongre in further judicial custody, the court ruled that the application merited being allowed.

As per the order, Ramakant Bhagoji Dongre has been released on bail with the following conditions:

1. He must furnish a PR bond of Rs. 20,000 with one or two solvent sureties of the same amount.
2. He shall not tamper with prosecution witnesses in any way.
3. He shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to a police officer, or to tamper with the evidence.
4. He shall remain present before the investigating officer at the ACB office every Sunday and Thursday between 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to assist in the investigation, until further order or till the filing of the charge-sheet, whichever occurs earlier.

Bail Application No. 482/2018 and ACB Remand Application No. 700/2018 were both disposed of accordingly. The order was signed by Special Judge S.J. Biyani on July 24, 2018, and uploaded on July 25, 2018.