Mumbai, February 5, 2022 – Ravi Kariappa Pattamalli (33) and Janu Bassappa Mhetre (38) have been granted bail by the Sessions Court for Greater Bombay in connection with an assault case. Additional Sessions Judge Deepak L. Bhagwat (Court Room No. 60) issued the order on February 5, 2022.

The two men were arrested in connection with C.R. No. 34 of 2022, registered at the Pant Nagar Police Station. They were charged under Sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of¹ the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).²

Background and Allegations:

The prosecution alleged that on January 16, 2022, the complainant and his friend Jija were assaulted by four unknown individuals. The assailants allegedly stopped their rickshaw and attacked them with a beer bottle and a sharp weapon, causing injuries to their heads and hands. During the assault, one of the assailants reportedly mentioned “Ravi” and “Janu” before fleeing.

Arguments Presented:

Advocate Rajesh Katarnavare, representing Pattamalli and Mhetre, argued that the allegations against his clients were limited to assaults with hands and that the complainant and Jija were discharged from the hospital on the same day. He also highlighted that his clients had no prior criminal record and were willing to comply with bail conditions.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Seema Deshpande opposed the bail, stating that two other accused were yet to be identified and that there was evidence implicating the applicants in the crime.

Court’s Reasoning and Decision:

Judge Bhagwat, after reviewing the injury certificates, noted that the injuries sustained by the complainant and Jija were deemed “simple” by the medical officer, although an ENT reference was advised. The court concluded that the appropriate charge would likely be Section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the IPC, rather than Section 326.

Considering that the police custody period of the applicants was over and there was no justification for further detention, the court decided to grant bail subject to certain conditions.

Bail Conditions:

Pattamalli and Mhetre were granted bail upon executing a personal bond of Rs. 20,000 each and providing one or two solvent sureties of the same amount. The following conditions were imposed:

• A provisional cash security of Rs. 20,000 was permitted for each applicant for one month in lieu of the surety bond.
• The applicants must attend the Pant Nagar Police Station every Monday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. until the filing of the charge sheet.
• The applicants must provide a list of at least three blood relatives with their addresses and workplace details, along with documentary proof.
• The applicants and their sureties must inform the police and the trial court of any change in their residential addresses.
• The applicants must submit copies of at least two identification documents, such as a PAN card, Aadhaar card, ration card, electricity bill, voter ID card, or property documents.
• The investigating officer must conduct physical verification of the applicants’ residential addresses.
• The applicants must not influence or threaten any witnesses or tamper with evidence.
• The applicants must not leave the territorial limits of Mumbai without prior permission from the trial court.
• Conditions related to document submission and address verification must be complied with before or during the furnishing of the cash security or surety bond.
• Bail to be furnished before the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate.

Order Details:

The order was dictated, transcribed, and signed on February 5, 2022, and uploaded on the same day at 1:00 p.m.

This decision reflects the court’s assessment of the severity of the alleged offenses, the completion of the police custody period, and the imposition of conditions to ensure the applicants’ compliance with the legal process.