Mumbai, April 10, 2025 (Thane News Network): In a significant development in a 2019 case, the Sessions Court for Greater Mumbai has granted bail to four women who were accused of obstructing police officers in the execution of an arrest warrant. The order, dated August 17, 2022, but recently brought to light, allows Zeenat Hafiz Mansoori (30), Shaheen Zaheer Shaikh (31), Rizwana @ Ruksana Dilwar Khan (52), and Fauzia Hameed Mansuri (37) to be released from judicial custody upon furnishing bail bonds.
The case, registered under Crime No. 856/2019 at Bandra Police Station, involves allegations that the four applicants, along with one Nasir Shaukat Mansuri, obstructed police officers who were attempting to execute a warrant against an absconding accused named Hafiz Hamid Mansuri. Consequently, the four women were charged under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code.
The applicants, all residents of the Bandra (West) area of Mumbai, had approached the court seeking bail under Section 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Their plea emphasized their innocence, claiming false implication, and highlighting their status as Indian citizens and permanent residents of Mumbai.
The prosecution, represented by APP Mr. Shankar Erande, vehemently opposed the bail application, citing concerns that the accused would abscond and fail to attend the trial if released. They submitted a reply (Exh.2) denying the applicants’ claims of innocence.
However, HH The Additional Sessions Judge Smt. C.V.Patil, presiding over Court Room No. 27, carefully considered the arguments presented by both sides. The court noted that the offences under Sections 353 and 332 are triable by the Sessions Court. While acknowledging the prosecution’s submission regarding the obstruction during the execution of the warrant, the court also took note of the fact that the individuals against whom the initial warrant was issued, namely Hamid and Nasir, had already been arrested and a charge sheet filed against them.
The court addressed the prosecution’s objection regarding the delayed arrest of the present applicants, stating that it was not acceptable given that they were shown as absconding earlier and were arrested subsequently.
In a reasoned order, the Additional Sessions Judge stated that while the trial would take its own course, the prosecution’s primary concern of the accused absconding could be addressed by imposing necessary conditions. The court further reasoned that with the investigation complete and the charge sheet already filed against the other accused, there was no justifiable reason to keep the four women behind bars for an indefinite period until the conclusion of the trial, especially considering the absence of any other specific reasons for their detention besides the apprehension of them absconding.
Consequently, the court passed the following order:
ORDER
- Criminal Bail Application No. 1953/2022 is allowed.
- The applicant nos. 1) Zeenat Hafiz Mansoori, 2) Shaheen Zaheer Shaikh, 3) Rizwana @ Ruksana Dilwar Khan and 4) Fauzia Hameed Mansuri shall be released on bail upon executing a Personal Bond (PB) and a Surety Bond (SB) of ₹ 15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand) each, with a surety of a like amount for each applicant.
- The applicants shall not leave India without the prior permission of this Court, and after the charge sheet or report, with the permission of the Trial Court.
- The applicants shall furnish their ID proof, registered address, and phone number before the Trial Court/Investigating Officer (I.O.).
- The applicants shall attend the concerned police station/Court regularly.
- The applicants shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence in any manner.
- Any breach of these conditions by the applicants shall result in the cancellation of their bail.
- Criminal Bail Application No. 1953/2022 is thus allowed and stands disposed of.
The order was pronounced on August 17, 2022, and subsequently signed and uploaded on the court records. The release of the four women will bring relief to their families and marks a significant step in the legal proceedings of this 2019 case. It remains to be seen how the trial will unfold.