Mumbai, March 13, 2024 – Karan Pandari Waghmare has been granted bail by the Sessions Court for Greater Bombay in connection with a 2016 case. The order, issued by Additional Sessions Judge S.N. Patil in Court Room No. 17, pertains to Criminal Bail Application No. 593 of 2024.

Waghmare was arrested under a non-bailable warrant (NBW) in connection with Crime No. 28 of 2016, registered at Chembur Police Station. The charges against him include offenses under Sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty),¹ 143 (unlawful assembly), 145 (joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing it has been commanded to disperse), 146 (rioting), 147 (rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offense committed in prosecution of common object) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code,² along with relevant sections of the³ Maharashtra Prohibition Act and the Maharashtra Police Act.

In his bail application, Waghmare, represented by Advocate Jairam Kagade, stated that he had been absent from court because he had traveled to his native place due to the death of his father-in-law and had remained there for over a year. Consequently, the court issued an NBW against him. His subsequent bail application before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) at Kurla was rejected on February 28, 2024, leading to the current application.

Waghmare had been in judicial custody since January 30, 2024. He had previously been granted bail on a Personal Recognizance (PR) bond of ₹10,000.

The prosecution, represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Ashwini Raykar, opposed the bail, arguing that Waghmare was aware of the court proceedings but deliberately remained absent, leading to the issuance of the NBW.

Judge Patil, after considering the submissions from both sides, noted that Waghmare had previously been granted bail on a PR bond of ₹10,000 and had been in custody since January 30, 2024. The chargesheet in the case had been filed in 2016.

“Considering the nature of the offence, I am of the opinion that this is a fit case in which discretion can be exercised in favour of applicant/accused,” Judge Patil stated in his order.

The court granted bail to Waghmare under the following conditions:

• He must furnish a Personal Bond (PB) of ₹10,000 with one surety of the same amount.
• He is prohibited from influencing, threatening, or promising any person related to the case.
• He is prohibited from tampering with evidence.
• He is prohibited from committing similar offenses while on bail.
• He is prohibited from leaving India without prior court permission.
• Provisional cash bail of ₹10,000 is allowed for four weeks.
• Bail is to be executed before the Learned Metropolitan Magistrate.

This decision reflects the court’s consideration of the specific circumstances of the case, including Waghmare’s previous bail, his reason for absence, and the progress of the case. It also highlights the court’s discretion in granting bail in cases where the accused’s absence is attributed to genuine reasons.