1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.304 OF 2010 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.303 OF 2010 1) Shreekant Rajaram Kumbhar ) 2) Abhijit Prafull Chitnis )..Applicants Vs. The State of Maharashtra )..Respondent ­­­­ Mr. Umesh R. Mankapure for the applicants. Mr. S.N. Gawde APP for the State/respondent. ­­­­ Coram : R.S.MOHITE,J Date : 18th March, 2010 PC 1 The two applicants who have preferred the aforesaid two criminal applications seek anticipatory bail as they apprehend arrest in C.R.No.8 of 2008 and C.R.No.7 of 2008 registered with Wildlife Forest Office, Radha Nagari Range for alleged offences under Sections 26(1)(a), (f) of Indian Forest Act and under Section 29 of Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and under Section 109, 379 of IPC. On perusing the record, I find that in so far as applicant no.1 is concerned there is little material against him. The material does not clearly indicate that he was the actual purchaser of the wood which was stolen from the forest. The police have recorded the statements of certain co­accused. One of the co­ accused whose statement is recorded is Tanaji Shirke. His statement was recorded on 14.12.2008. Later on 2nd statement of the same accused has been recorded a year later on 2 17.12.2009 Similarly statement of another co­accused by name Ashok More has earlier been recorded on 11.12.2008 and his 2nd statement has been recorded on 18.12.2009. On considering these two statements, I find that from them it can be inferred that the main purchaser of the wood was applicant no.2 Abhijit Praful Chitnis @ Abhijit Patil. 2 As far as applicant no.1 Shreekant Rajaram Kumbhar is concerned, the role attributed to him that he had introduced the accused Ashok More to the alleged purchaser applicant no.2 Abhijit Chitnis and was present in the village where a contract to cut the wood was given. Taking into account the material which is available on record, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant no.2 Abhijit Praful Chitnis @ Abhijit Patil in both these applications. His applications for grant of anticipatory bail are therefore, rejected. 3 As far as applicant no.1 Shreekant Rajaram Kumbhar is concerned, it is directed that in the event of his arrest, he will be released on bail in the sum of Rs.10,000/­ in each case with one surety in the like amount subject to the further condition that he reports to the investigating officer as and when called upon by him in writing. It is clarified that these prima facie findings will not be used in the trial. (R.S.MOHITE,J) 3 4