Mumbai, October 6, 2022 – Sanjay Dinkar Rane, convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, has been granted bail pending the outcome of his criminal appeal. The Special Court for NDPS Act, Greater Bombay, ordered his release subject to specific conditions, including the deposit of a portion of the fine imposed by the trial court.

Rane, aged 46 and a service member, was convicted and subsequently filed Criminal Appeal No. 280/2022. Along with the appeal, he filed an application seeking suspension of his sentence. The court allowed this application and directed him to execute a bond of Rs. 2,00,000 with a surety of the like amount.

Court Proceedings and Decision:

The current bail application, Criminal Bail Application No. 1196/2022, was filed to formalize Rane’s release on bail following the suspension of his sentence.

After hearing arguments from Ld. Adv. Mr. Sameer Adangale for Rane and Ld. APP Mr. P.J. Tarange for the State of Maharashtra, Additional Sessions Judge Shri V.G. Raghuwanshi granted the bail application.

Conditions of Bail:

Judge Raghuwanshi ordered Rane’s release on the following conditions:

• Rane must execute a bond of Rs. 2,00,000 with one or more solvent sureties of the like amount.
• He must deposit 50% of the fine amount imposed by the trial court within eight weeks from the date of the order.
• He must appear before the court regularly.

Implications:

This order allows Sanjay Dinkar Rane to be released from custody while his appeal against the conviction is pending. The suspension of the sentence and the grant of bail suggest that the court found sufficient grounds to allow the appellant to remain free until his appeal is heard.

The condition requiring Rane to deposit 50% of the fine amount serves to ensure compliance with the financial penalties imposed by the trial court while allowing the appellant to pursue his appeal. This balances the enforcement of the trial court’s judgment with the appellant’s right to seek a review of his conviction.

The order was dictated on September 30, 2022, and signed on October 6, 2022.