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Bombay High Court

Rajshri Manojkumar Choukade vs The State Of Maharashtra And Others on 13 February, 2026

                                                           909 ABA NO. 237 OF 2026



             IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                        BENCH AT AURANGABAD
            ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION NO. 237 OF 2026
                       Rajshri Manojkumar Choukade
                                  VERSUS
                    The State Of Maharashtra And Others
                                    ...
       •   Mr. A. N. Kakade, Advocate for Applicant
       •   Mr. A. S. Shinde, APP for Respondents - State
                                       ...
                                    CORAM : MEHROZ K. PATHAN, J.

                                    DATED : 13.02.2026


PER COURT :

1.         Heard learned counsel for the applicant and the learned APP

for the respondent-State.

2.         Issue notice to the respondents, returnable on 16.03.2026. The

learned APP waives notice on behalf of the respondents - State.

3.         The applicant has approached this Court apprehending arrest

in connection with FIR No.204 of 2025 dated 10.12.2025 registered

with Nardana Police Station, District Dhule, for the offences

punishable under Sections 3(2)(d), ,  and  of the Essential

Commodities Act, 1955, Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya

Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and under Sections 2, , , , , , 19(a), 19(c)

(i), 19(c)(ii), 22(c), 25(1), 25(2), 25(3), 28, 35(1)(a) and 35(1)(b)

of the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 read with the Fertilizer

(Movement Control) Order, 1973.

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                                                         909 ABA NO. 237 OF 2026


4.     Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant

has been added as an accused only on the basis of the statements of

accused No.1 - Vineet Kumar Jain and accused No.2 - Gyan Prakash

Sharma, who have already been granted bail by the learned

Additional Sessions Judge, Dhule, vide order dated 01.01.2026. It is

submitted that the applicant is a dealer engaged in sale and purchase

of fertilizers and insecticides and is not involved in manufacturing of

any fertilizer. It is submitted that the applicant had purchased

industrial urea from R. K. Tradewings, Indore, and supplied the same

to accused Vineet Kumar Jain and Gyan Prakash Sharma upon their

demand. It is submitted that the urea seized from the said accused,

which is alleged to be neem-coated urea meant for distribution under

the public distribution system, is sought to be connected with the

supplies made by the applicant. It is further submitted that the

applicant possesses necessary tax invoices and documents showing

that she was dealing only in industrial urea and that, on one such

demand, the material was directly loaded from R. K. Tradewings into

vehicle bearing registration No. MH-18-BZ-1849 for delivery at

Dhule. It is submitted that the applicant is a woman, has no criminal

antecedents, and is ready to abide by any conditions that may be

imposed by this Court.




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                                                              909 ABA NO. 237 OF 2026


5.      Taking into consideration the aforesaid submissions, the role

attributed to the applicant, and the fact that the co-accused have

already been granted bail, I am inclined to protect the present

applicant till the investigation papers are perused.

                                  ORDER

i. In the event of arrest of the applicant Rajshri Manojkumar Choukade, in connection with FIR No.204 of 2025 dated 10.12.2025 registered with Nardana Police Station, District Dhule, for the offences punishable under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 read with the Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973, she be released on bail on furnishing P.R. bond of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount, subject to the following conditions :-

A) The applicant shall attend the concerned police station and report to the Investigating Officer on 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th February, 2026 and 6th and 7th March, 2026 between 12:00 noon and 02:00 p.m. B) The Applicant shall also cooperate with the investigation.

C) The Applicant shall not pressurize the prosecution witnesses and shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence, in any manner.

6. Needless to say, violation of any of the aforesaid conditions may entitle the prosecution to seek vacation of the interim relief granted herein above.

7. The Investigating Officer shall make available the investigation papers on the next date of hearing.

8. Stand over to 16.03.2026.

( MEHROZ K. PATHAN, J. ) Jhs/ 4/4