Mumbai, March 14, 2024 – Kumar Mansukhlal Mehta has been granted bail by the Sessions Court for Greater Mumbai pending the outcome of his criminal appeal. Additional Sessions Judge K.P. Shrikhande (Court Room No. 87) issued the order on March 6, 2024.
Mehta, proprietor of Fabric World, was convicted by the trial court for an offense under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (cheque dishonor). He was sentenced to two months of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 95,000, with an additional month of simple imprisonment in default of fine payment.
Background:
Mehta was convicted by the trial court on February 5, 2024, and subsequently filed Criminal Appeal No. 131 of 2024 to challenge his conviction and sentence. He then filed Criminal Bail Application No. 539 of 2024 seeking bail pending the appeal’s resolution.
Arguments Presented:
Advocate Kishor Bhatia, representing Mehta, filed the bail application.
No one appeared for Respondent No. 1 (Jyoti Prakash Devjani).
Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Sachin Gawade, representing the State, was present.
Court’s Reasoning and Decision:
Judge Shrikhande noted that Mehta was on bail throughout the trial. He also considered that Mehta had challenged the trial court’s judgment by filing an appeal and that the substantive sentence of imprisonment and fine had been suspended.
Based on these factors, the court decided to grant Mehta bail pending the appeal.
Bail Conditions:
Mehta was granted bail upon executing a personal bond of Rs. 20,000 with a surety of the same amount. The following conditions were imposed:
- Mehta must furnish the bail before the trial court within one month.
- Mehta is granted the liberty to furnish provisional cash bail for one month.
Order Details:
The order was typed on March 12, 2024, and signed on March 14, 2024. The certified copy was uploaded on March 14, 2024, at 11:55 a.m.
This decision reflects the court’s consideration of Mehta’s conduct during the trial, the filing of an appeal, and the suspension of the substantive sentence.