Authority: High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction

Order Date: 23 September 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Applicant Hiren Bharat Sumaria, employee of Sri Sri Devi Jewellers, versus State of Maharashtra (respondent).
  • FIR Details: FIR No. 241 of 2026 registered at Bhiwandi City Police Station under Sections 179 and 180 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, based on a report by Deputy Branch Manager of ICICI Bank, Dhamankar Naka, Bhiwandi.
  • Allegations: On 17 March 2026, the applicant allegedly deposited cash amounting to Rs 30,00,000 (thirty lakh rupees) at the bank, of which five notes of Rs 500 denomination were later detected as counterfeit.
  • Legal Provisions: The anticipatory bail application invoked Section 482 of the BNS, 2023. The order also references a separate crime (Crime No. 177/2026) under Sections 310(2), 333, 351(2), 351(3), 352 of BNS, 2023, registered with Padgha Police Station.
  • Counsel: Applicant represented by Mr. Naushad Sayyed (V.C); Respondent represented by Ms. Geeta Mulekar (APP).
  • Court Observations: The court noted that the allegations of tendering fake notes arise solely because the applicant presented the notes to the bank; there is no evidence that he knew the notes were counterfeit. It further observed that a person aware of counterfeit notes would unlikely tender them at a bank equipped with currency detection machines.

Final Outcome

  • The anticipatory bail application is allowed.
  • If arrested in connection with Crime No. 177/2026, the applicant may be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 (Rupees Twenty‑Five Thousand only) with one solvent surety of the same amount.
  • The applicant is directed to appear at the police station on 27 September 2026 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and to cooperate with the investigating agency as and when required.
  • The order emphasizes the protection of the applicant’s personal liberty at this stage, given his readiness to cooperate and the lack of evidence of knowledge of counterfeit notes.

Topics: Anticipatory Bail, Counterfeit Currency, Banking Investigation