SABITA PATRA AND ORS vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR

Judgment text excerpt

1/20 910 WP 1432-23.doc Digitally signed by ASHISH ASHISH SAHEBRAO MHASKE SAHEBRAO MHASKE Date: 2025.12.23 18:16:18 +0530 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 1432 OF 2023 Sabita Patra and ors .. Petitioners Versus The State of Maharashtra and anr .. Respondents … Mr. Karma Vivan a/w Mr. Neel Panalikar, Mr. Hormuz Mehta, Kunal Bilaney i/b J. Sagar Associates for the petitioners. Mr. Shriram Kulkarni, a/w Mr. Gaurav Ugale for respondent No.2. Mr. Tanveer Khan, APP for the State. CORAM: BHARATI DANGRE & SHYAM C. CHANDAK, JJ. DATED : 16th DECEMBER, 2025 JUDGMENT (PER BHARATI DANGRE J):- 1. Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith by consent of parties. 2. The six petitioners, have approached this Court praying for quashing and setting aside of the FIR No. 194 of 2023 registered with Powai Police Station, invoking Sections 354 and 509 read with 34 of IPC and for quashing of all consequent actions arising from the same. While issuing notice to the respondents on 20/04/2023, interim relief was granted in terms of prayer clause (c) of the Petition, as a result of which the investigation of the subject FIR registered at Powai Police Station is stayed. 3. On the petition being listed before us, we have heard Advocate Karma Vivan for the petitioners along with Mr. Shriram Kulkarni for Ashish 2/20 910 WP 1432-23.doc respondent no.2, the complainant, whereas the State is represented by Mr. Tanveer Khan, Additional Public Prosecutor. 4. The genesis of the rival contention advanced before us, find place in the complaint lodged by the complainant aged 36 years who made a grievance that while she was working in a private company as H.R. Manager, she was subjected to harassment with a deliberate intention of outraging her modesty. Th