Mumbai, April 27, 2022 (Thane Location Insight): The Additional Sessions Judge, R. M. Sadrani (C.R. No. 37), at the Sessions Court for Greater Bombay, has granted bail to Talsi @ Tulsi Devaram Prajapati, a 50-year-old resident of Sirohi district in Rajasthan, in connection with a multi-million rupee gold theft case. Prajapati was implicated in C.R. No. 9 of 2022 registered at the L.T. Marg Police Station, Mumbai, for offences punishable under Sections 381 (theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property),¹ 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 212 (harbouring offender) read with Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

According to the prosecution’s case, the informant, Khushal Rasiklal Tamka, a goldsmith, reported that his servant, Ganesh Hiraram Kumar, had stolen gold ornaments and cash amounting to a total of Rs.8,19,37,871/−​ from the informant’s office locker on January 14, 2022, at around 1:30 a.m. The prosecution alleged that Ganesh committed this crime in collusion with co-accused Ramesh Prajapati. Both Ganesh and Ramesh were arrested, and the stolen property (muddemal) was recovered from them.

The applicant, Talsi @ Tulsi Devaram Prajapati, is the mother of the co-accused Ramesh Prajapati. The specific allegation against her is that she received Rs.1,40,000/−​ in cash and seven gold rings in order to help conceal the crime committed by her son. This part of the stolen property was also recovered from her. Prajapati was arrested on February 1, 2022.

Advocate Prakash Mali appeared for the applicant, while APP Abhijeet Gondwal represented the respondent/State.

Considering the nature of the alleged offences, the punishment prescribed under the law, and the fact that the applicant is a woman, Additional Sessions Judge R. M. Sadrani was inclined to grant bail. The court also took note that the applicant is a resident of Rajasthan. To ensure her presence during the trial, the court deemed the following order sufficient:

ORDER:

1. Bail Application No. 740 of 2022 is hereby allowed.
2. Applicant Talsi @ Tulsi Devaram Prajapati in C.R. No. 9 of 2022 of L.T. Marg Police Station, Mumbai for the offence punishable U/s. 381, 201, 411, 120B, 212 r/w. 34 of Indian Penal Code be released on bail on executing PR bond of Rs.25,000/−​ with one surety of the same amount. In addition to this, applicant to deposit cash surety of Rs.25,000/−​.
3. Applicant to furnish her detailed address and phone number at the time of furnishing bail.
4. Bail before the Court attending remand.
5. Applicant shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the accusation against herself so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.
6. Applicant shall not leave India without previous permission of the Court.
7. Bail Application is disposed off accordingly.

The order was dictated, transcribed, and signed by Additional Sessions Judge R. M. Sadrani on April 27, 2022, and uploaded on the same date.

This case highlights the court’s consideration of various factors, including the accused’s gender and the need to secure their presence, while deciding on bail applications, even in cases involving significant amounts of stolen property. The imposition of both a personal bond and a cash surety, along with other conditions, reflects the court’s attempt to balance the applicant’s right to liberty with the need to ensure her cooperation with the legal process.