Mumbai, April 9, 2025 (Thane News Network): In a recent order, the Additional Sessions Judge Smt. C.V. Patil at the Sessions Court for Greater Mumbai has granted bail to Vijay Hemaji Chauhan, a 50-year-old resident of Bandra, who was arrested along with others for allegedly plotting a dacoity. The order, passed on August 20, 2022, in Criminal Bail Application No. 1878 of 2022, allows Chauhan’s release despite the prosecution’s highlighting of his criminal antecedents.

The case against Vijay Hemaji Chauhan and his associates was registered at Bandra Police Station under Crime No. 480/2022, invoking Sections 399 (making preparation to commit dacoity) and 402 (assembling for purpose of committing dacoity) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along¹ with Sections 4 and 25 of the Arms Act and Section 37(1) read with Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. The prosecution alleged that the accused were apprehended by the police before they could execute their plan to commit a dacoity, and weapons were reportedly recovered from their possession.

Advocate Dipak Vishwakarma, representing the applicant/accused, argued that Chauhan had been falsely implicated on suspicion and had not committed any offense. He submitted that the investigation was complete and there was no justification to keep his client incarcerated indefinitely until the conclusion of the trial.

The prosecution, represented by APP Mr. Shankar Erande, opposed the bail application, citing Chauhan’s criminal history and arguing that his release would likely lead to him committing similar offenses and absconding. The prosecution’s reply (Exhibit 02) detailed the allegations and the accused’s past involvement in similar crimes.

While acknowledging the serious nature of the charges and the fact that the offenses are triable by the Sessions Court, which typically involves a lengthy trial process, Additional Sessions Judge Smt. C.V. Patil noted that a co-accused in the same case had already been granted bail. The court also addressed the prosecution’s concern about the accused absconding or committing similar offenses by stating that these concerns could be mitigated by imposing necessary conditions on the bail.

Regarding the prosecution’s emphasis on Chauhan’s criminal antecedents, which included two previously registered offenses of housebreaking theft and robbery, the court held that while these past offenses indicated a propensity for similar crimes, they were yet to be proven against the accused. Therefore, regular bail could not be denied solely on this ground. The court reasoned that the objections raised by the prosecution could be addressed by imposing stringent conditions on the applicant’s release.

Consequently, the court passed the following order:

1. Bail Application Allowed: Bail Application No. 1878/2022 was allowed.
2. Release on Bond: Applicant/accused Vijay Hemaji Chauhan was ordered to be released on bail upon executing a Personal Recognizance (P.R.) bond of ₹25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-five Thousand) with one or more sureties of a like amount.
3. Information to Court/IO: The applicant is directed to furnish his ID proof, registered address, and phone number before the Trial Court/Investigating Officer (I.O.).
4. Mandatory Police Station Visits: The applicant is directed to cooperate with the investigation and attend the concerned Bandra Police Station once a week, every Sunday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
5. Travel Restriction: The applicant shall not leave India without the prior permission of the Trial Court.
6. No Tampering with Evidence: The applicant is strictly prohibited from tampering with prosecution evidence in any manner.
7. Breach of Conditions: It was explicitly stated that any breach of the imposed conditions by the applicant would result in the cancellation of his bail.
8. Application Disposed Of: Bail Application No. 1878/2022 stands disposed of accordingly.

The order was dictated on August 20, 2022, transcribed on August 22, 2022, and signed on August 22, 2022, by Additional Sessions Judge Smt. C.V. Patil. The certified true copy of the order was uploaded on the court’s record on August 22, 2022.

This bail order signifies a crucial juncture in the legal proceedings against Vijay Hemaji Chauhan. While the court has granted him conditional release, the serious charges of conspiracy to commit dacoity and the recovery of weapons indicate that the trial will likely be closely watched. The conditions imposed, including weekly police station visits and travel restrictions, aim to ensure the accused’s cooperation with the legal process and prevent any potential obstruction of justice. The outcome of the trial will ultimately determine Chauhan’s guilt or innocence in the alleged dacoity plot.