MANU/MH/2270/2023

True Court CopyTM

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY (NAGPUR BENCH)

Criminal Appeal No. 365 of 2023

Decided On: 27.06.2023

Appellants: Ajinkya Vs. Respondent: State of Maharashtra and Ors.

Hon'ble Judges/Coram:
Urmila S. Joshi-Phalke

JUDGMENT

Urmila S. Joshi-Phalke, J.

1. Heard finally with the consent of learned Counsel for the parties.

2. Present appeal is preferred by the appellant under Section 14A of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act of 1989' for short) against the order by which the anticipatory bail application of the appellant, is rejected by the Sessions Court.

3. Present appellant has filed an application for grant of anticipatory bail under Section 438 of Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with Crime No. 459 of 2023 registered at police station Gadge Nagar, Amravati under Sections 323, 504, 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The appellant is apprehending his arrest at the hands of the Police as crime is registered on the basis of report lodged by Manoj Rameshrao Ingle on an allegation that on 1st April 2023 at about 2.20 p.m., he reached at Irvin square, near Rajeshwari Vidyalaya near his house on Priyanka colony road. At about 4.15 p.m., when he was alone on the road one person came by covering his face by dupatta and snatched dupatta which was around his neck. Due to which he fallen on the ground. During scuffle he removed the dupatta of the said person and it revealed to him that said person is the present appellant by name Ajinkya Ghogare. It is further alleged that the present appellant attempted to press his neck by means of said dupatta and assaulted him by fist and kick blows and also threatened him. On the basis said report, police have registered the offence against the present appellant.

4. As per the contention of the present appellant he is qualified as a Bachelor of Engineering and working as a Junior Engineer with the Amravati Municipal Corporation from the year 2018. The Amravati Municipal Corporation reserved one land for library, primary school and vegetable market vide Reservation No. 11, 12 and 13. However, there is slum area at Mouza Shegaon within the limits of Amravati Municipal Corporation. The informant, who claims to be an office bearer of the Republican Party of India and holding the post of Youth City President of the Republican Party of India since 2021, there was correspondence by the office bearer of the Republican Party of India for regularizing the encroachment by the person on the aforementioned reservations. Under the scheme known as "Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana" several persons who are residing in the slum area, have made an application for getting the residence under the said scheme. The present appellant was entrusted the work of spot inspection under the said scheme in order to determine the entitlement of the beneficiaries. The informant used to extend threats to the government officials in order to pressurize them. On 10.02.2023, the informant have made a complaint with the Collector, Amravati requesting to remove the appellant from his post. Thus, the informant was having grudge against the present appellant. On 24.02.2023, when the appellant along with the Deputy Engineer Shri Sunil Chaudhary had been to mouza Shegaon for conducting the survey, at that time the informant obstructed them and the appellant has reported the said incident to the Gadge Nagar police station. On the basis of the report lodged by the present appellant crime is registered ag........