ROBERT GRAGERY DSOUZA vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR

Judgment text excerpt

2026:BHC-AS:12002 WP 235-26.DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 235 OF 2026 Robert Gragery D’Souza, Age: 58 years, Occ.: Business, R/at. 2nd Floor, Gaurav Plaza, Lamiben Chheda Marg, Nallasopara (W), Tal. Vasai, Dist. Palghar – 401 203 (Presently lodged in Thane Central Prison, Thane) ...Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Maharashtra (At the instance of Naigaon Police Station/EOW, Mira-Bhayander, Vasai Virar Police Commissionerate) 2. Sunil Madhukar Shinde, Age: 53 years, Occ: Business, R/at. Opp. Shejar Chhaya Ashram, H. No. 229, Sagpada, Devdal, Pokaman Tal. Vasai, Dist. Palghar. …Respondents _____________________ ___ _________ Mr. Saurabh Butala i/b Regina Correia, for the Petitioner. Mr. Hrishikesh Mundargi a/w Ms. P. Chadha, for the Respondent No. 2. Mr. D J Haldankar, APP for the Respondent - State. _____________________________________ CORAM : N. J. JAMADAR, J. RESERVED ON : 12th FEBRUARY 2026 PRONOUNCED ON : 11th MARCH 2026 SAINATH, PA 1/24 WP 235-26.DOC JUDGMENT: 1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith, and, with the consent of learned Counsel for the parties, heard finally. 2. By this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and Section 528 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (“BNSS, 2023) (Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973), the petitioner assails the legality and correctness of an order dated 09 th December, 2025 passed by the learned Magistrate, Vasai whereby an application preferred by the petitioner to enlarge him on default bail under the provisions of Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (‘the Code, 1973’), came to be rejected. 3. Shorn of superfluities, the background facts can be stated as under:- 3.1 Shejar Chhaya Trust, Devdal (th