Mumbai, May 24, 2022 – Prakash Krishna Bhosale, a 28-year-old businessman, has been granted bail by the Sessions Court for Greater Bombay in connection with a case involving the production of counterfeit driving licenses. Bhosale was arrested by the R.C.F. police and booked under sections 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 465 (forgery),1 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) of the Indian2 Penal Code (IPC).
The case, registered as C.R. No. 187/2022 at the R.C.F. police station, alleged that Bhosale was involved in the creation and distribution of bogus driving licenses.
Details of the Arrest and Allegations
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the police set up a trap and sent an undercover agent (punter) to interact with Bhosale. He was caught red-handed, and incriminating documents were seized from him during the operation.
The prosecution, represented by Mr. Ramesh Siroya, APP, argued against granting bail, citing the seriousness of the offense and the potential risk of Bhosale absconding if released. They emphasized the need for him to remain in custody to ensure his presence during the trial.
Defense Arguments and Court Observations
Mr. Keshav Chavan, Advocate for the applicant/accused, argued that his client was innocent and had been falsely implicated. He highlighted that the offenses were triable by a Magistrate and that Bhosale had a clean criminal record. Moreover, he assured the court that Bhosale would comply with any conditions imposed if granted bail.
H.H. Additional Judge Shri G.B. Gurao, presiding over the case, reviewed the FIR and the submissions from both sides. The court noted that while documents were seized from Bhosale, a significant portion of the investigation had already been completed. Furthermore, the court acknowledged that Bhosale’s continued custody was not deemed necessary for further investigation.
The Judge also considered Bhosale’s clean criminal record and his willingness to abide by any imposed conditions. These factors weighed in favor of granting bail.
Bail Conditions and Order
Ultimately, the court granted bail to Prakash Krishna Bhosale, subject to the following conditions:
- He must execute a Personal Recognizance (PR) bond of ₹15,000.
- He must provide one or more sureties of the same amount.
- He must attend all court hearings regularly, unless exempted by the court.
- He was given provisional cash bail of 15,000 rupees for four weeks.
- He must complete the bail process before the Learned Magistrate.
“Bail Application No. 1132/2022 is hereby allowed,” the court order stated. “Applicant/accused namely Prakash Krishna Bhosale in C.R.No.187 of 2022 registered with R.C.F. police station for the offence punishable under Sections 419, 420,465,468,471 of IPC, he shall be released on his executing PR Bond of Rs.15,000/- (Fifteen thousand only) with one or more sureties of the like amount on the conditions that: He shall attend the dates of Court regularly unless exempted by the Court.”
Implications and Public Reaction
The granting of bail in this case highlights the court’s consideration of individual rights and the progress of the investigation. The decision reflects the principle that bail should be granted unless there are compelling reasons to believe that the accused will abscond or tamper with evidence.
The case also brings attention to the issue of counterfeit documents and the importance of stringent measures to prevent such activities. The investigation and trial will likely shed more light on the extent of the alleged fake driving license racket and the individuals involved.