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

Order Date: 23 September 2026

Case Overview

  • Applicant: Talakaram Tolaram Prajapati, employee of M/s Shree Laxmi Jewellery, Mumbai for about 20 years.
  • Respondent: State of Maharashtra.
  • Crime No. 1359 of 2025 registered at LT Marge Police Station under Sections 316(5), 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bombay Narcotic Substances Act, 2023.
  • FIR filed on basis of complaint by Shree Laxmi Jewellery alleging that accused No. 1 and No. 2 purchased gold jewellery worth Rs 2 crore between 14 June 2025 and 1 September 2025, made payments via RTGS, but failed to remit the amount to the complainant.
  • Applicant is alleged to have colluded with the accused, but counsel submitted no evidence of his involvement; he is merely an employee of the complainant’s shop.
  • Investigation is complete; charge sheet filed against the two accused persons; applicant has cooperated, attended police station per interim protection order dated 18 June 2026.

Final Outcome

  • The Court allowed the anticipatory bail application.
  • If arrested, the applicant may be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one solvent surety of equal amount.
  • The applicant is directed to attend the investigating agency whenever called and to cooperate fully during investigation and trial.

Topics: Anticipatory Bail, Gold Jewellery Dispute, Criminal Procedure