Mumbai, Thane [Current Location] – April 16, 2025 – The Special Judge ACB for Greater Mumbai has granted bail to Deepak Waman Bagul, a Senior Police Inspector (PI) attached to Tilak Nagar Police Station, who was arrested in connection with a bribery case (C.R. No. 21/2024) registered with the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), Mumbai. The order, dated July 15, 2024, was issued by HHJ Abhijeet A. Nandgaonkar (Special Judge ACB, C.R. No. 45) in Criminal Bail Application No. 552 of 2024.

Bagul, 56, was accused under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The applicant argued that he was falsely implicated, had no prior criminal record, and had already undergone the initial stages of investigation, including the recording of his voice sample. He emphasized his position as a Senior PI, asserting that there was no possibility of him absconding. He also stated that nothing further remained to be recovered from him after his police custody, and he had been in judicial custody since July 11, 2024, following his arrest on July 9, 2024, and a two-day Police Custody Remand (PCR).

Bagul further submitted that the offense was not punishable with death or life imprisonment. He expressed his readiness to abide by all court conditions, not to tamper with evidence or witnesses, and to cooperate with the prosecution. He therefore requested to be released on bail.

The prosecution, represented by Learned APP Rajlaxmi Bhandari, opposed the bail application. They argued that Bagul, being a public servant, could pressure witnesses and hinder the investigation, as statements of witnesses were yet to be recorded and documentary evidence was still being collected.

Special Judge Nandgaonkar, after hearing both sides and perusing the submissions, noted the absence of the Investigating Officer.

The case originated from a complaint lodged by Mr. Jogindarlal Mahesh Khosla on July 9, 2024, concerning a monetary transaction involving Mrs. Rajani Deshpande. The dispute arose after Mrs. Deshpande allegedly assured Mr. Khosla that a deposit of ₹25 Lakhs through an individual named Arif would double in 24 hours if invested in certain cooperative credit societies, against which she provided return cheques. Mr. Khosla handed over ₹27,50,000 to Mrs. Deshpande, but the amount was not returned despite repeated demands, and the cheques were dishonored.

When Mr. Khosla insisted on a refund, Mrs. Deshpande changed her residence. Upon contacting her office, he was asked to come to Tilak Nagar Police Station. The applicant/accused, Deepak Waman Bagul, allegedly intervened to resolve the dispute, demanding 25% of the transaction amount (₹8 Lakhs paid by Mrs. Deshpande to the complainant), eventually asking for ₹1 Lakh to settle the matter. When Mr. Khosla refused to pay, he lodged a complaint with the ACB.

On July 8, 2024, when the complainant visited Tilak Nagar Police Station, the conversation with the on-duty applicant/accused was recorded. The complainant, Mrs. Rajani, allegedly paid ₹20,000 to Bagul, promising a further ₹15,000. Bagul accepted a total of ₹35,000 and was subsequently trapped by the ACB. Following procedural aspects, CR No. 21/2024 was registered against Bagul under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and he was arrested on July 9, 2024, leading to PCR until July 11, 2024, and then MCR until July 24, 2024.

Special Judge Nandgaonkar observed that while allegations of accepting a bribe and the successful trap were on record, the further detention of a Senior PI like Bagul in jail seemed unproductive. The court also noted the documents placed on record indicating that Bagul suffered from various medical problems, requiring attention.

The court viewed the core issue as the dispute between the complainant and Mrs. Rajani regarding the non-refund of the doubled investment, suggesting the lodging of the complaint with the police might have been a tactic to divert attention from depositors. In this context, Bagul’s involvement seemed to stem from his attempt to address the complaint with the intention of recovering the amount, during which the alleged demand for 25% and the subsequent settlement involving a partial payment of ₹1 Lakh occurred.

The court opined that while further investigation into the procedural aspects by the concerned Investigation Officer would take time, including document seizure and recording of statements, further detention of Bagul was not warranted. However, considering his status as a Senior PI at Tilak Nagar Police Station, the court deemed it necessary to impose conditions for his release on bail to prevent him from hampering the investigation or threatening witnesses.

Consequently, the court allowed the bail application, issuing the following order:

1. Bail Application No. 552/2024 moved by accused Deepak Waman Bagul, Senior PI attached to Tilak Nagar Police Station in RA no. 816/24 arising out of C.R No. 21/2024 under Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act is allowed.
2. Accused Deepak Waman Bagul to be released on bail on executing personal bond of ₹One Lakh with one or more solvent sureties of like amount.
3. Provisional cash bail of ₹One Lakh is allowed to be deposited before this Court after treasury hours.
4. Additional Registrar (Sessions) is directed to accept cash bail amount of ₹One Lakh, which should be kept in fixed deposit until further order and not be released and refunded to the accused without permission of this Court till completion of the trial.
5. The accused should not tamper with the witnesses and hamper the investigation.
6. The accused shall co-operate with the investigating agency, as and when called by the IO, the accused should assist Investigating Officer for further investigation.
7. Accused shall not leave the territory of India without prior permission of this Court. Passport if it is with the accused to be deposited with the IO within 7 days from his release from Jail.
8. Accused shall furnish his detail address, copy of his Aadhar Card, pan card, driving license (if any) and he shall intimate about change of his residential address immediately to the Investigating Agency.
9. Bail Before this Court.
10. Accordingly, Bail application No. 552/2024 stands disposed of.

The order, dictated on July 15, 2024, transcribed and signed on July 16, 2024, emphasizes the court’s consideration of the accused’s position, the nature of the dispute leading to the bribery allegations, his medical condition, and the perceived lack of necessity for further detention, balanced with conditions to ensure cooperation and prevent interference with the investigation and trial. The unusual step of keeping the cash bail in fixed deposit until the trial’s completion suggests the court’s concern about the financial aspects of the case.