ABA/1835/2026 of GAVRAV SHANKAR MANCHARE Vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANOTHER on 12 October 2026

1. Applicant seeks pre-arrest bail in connection with Crime No. 1075 of 2025 registered with Tophkhana Police Station, Dist. Ahilyanagar, for the offences punishable under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

2. Allegations in the First Information Report indicates that applicant and co-accused in collusion with each other, prepared false document and uploaded this information on official portal of MAHASWAYAM under the initiative of Government of Maharashtra for extending benefits to Economically Backward Classes. Annasaheb Patil Aarthik Magas Vikas Mahamandal provides an interest refund to the Economically Backward borrowers from Maratha Community. In this regard, present applicant and co-accused prepared false document and

2026:BHC-AUG:48500

cheated the government to the extent of Rs. 6,74,700/-.

3. Learned Counsel for applicant submits that the applicant is not a beneficiary of the crime and that there is nothing on record to indicate that any falsified documents were created or uploaded by him on the portal in question. It is her contention that the money in question belongs to applicant.

4. Learned APP opposed grant of any protection to the applicant by submitting that applicant has created bogus document and uploaded the same on portal. Money has gone into his father and wife’s account so also into his own account. It is her further submission that having regard to this, applicant is not entitled for any relief. Learned APP drew attention of the Court to the similar offences have been registered against applicant and which disentitle him from any relief.

5. Needless to say that schemes are introduced by the State Government for the benefit of Economically Backward Class. The benefit thereof must go to these persons only. No one else should be permitted to take away said benefits thereby denying rightful persons of the same. Here, in this case, applicant created false documents and uploaded the same on the portal and without entitlement received benefits. There is prima facie evidence on record to indicate that money has gone into the account of his father and his wife though it is sought to be argued by the learned counsel for the applicant that father and wife are independent individual. This Court is not impressed with the said arguments for the simple reason that there is no explanation for receipt of money by them from the scheme and pertinently money also has gone into the individual account of the present applicant. He has also failed to explain the said amount.

6. Merely because now applicant shows his willingness to deposit the amount or to co-operate in the investigation would not entitle him to seek any pre-arrest bail. Crimes of these nature are required to be dealt with seriously. Investigating Agency is within its rights to seek custodial interrogation of the applicant in order to assailing the manner in which documents are created/fabricated and uploaded on portal so also other aspects of the crime. Having regard to these facts, applicant is not entitled for any relief.

7. Application stands dismissed. (R. M. JOSHI, J.) B. S. Joshi