1 abs FARAD CONTINUATION IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 5577 OF 2009 Ratan Bindubhushan Choudhary .. Applicant V/s The State of Maharashtra .. Respondent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Court's or Judge's Orders Coram, appearances, Court's Orders or directions and Registrar's Orders Mr. A.P. Mundargi, Senior Advocate with Mr. P.R. Arjunwadkar for the applicant. Ms. M.H. Mhatre, A.P.P. for the State. CORAM : D.G. KARNIK, J. DATE : 23RD FEBRUARY 2010 P.C. : 1. Heard. 2. By this application, the applicant seeks bail in connection with C.R. No. I-331 of 2009 registered at Vashi Police Station, Navi Mumbai, for an alleged offence punishable under sections 419 and 420 of the I.P.C. 2 3. On 11th September 2009, a F.I.R. was lodged at the Vashi Police Station that the applicant, who is not registered as an advocate under the Advocates Act and not qualified to do legal practice, is practicing as a “totya vakil” (by personification as an advocate) and thereby he has committed an offence. It is further alleged that the applicant had been practicing for 10-15 years and had accepted the sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- from Satguru Co-operative Housing Society and filed vakalatnama on its behalf. Others instances were also mentioned in which he had filed his appearance by giving false registration number. On investigation, it was discovered that the applicant did not possess the necessary qualification to do legal practice and was not enrolled as an advocate. 4. The applicant is in custody since 11th September 2009. Investigation is completed. Charge-sheet has been filed. I am informed at 3 the Bar that considering the present pendency of the matters before the Court, the trial is not likely to commence in the near future. 5. Since the investigation is complete and the presence of the applicant is not needed for the purpose of investigation, in my view, he can be granted conditional bail. Hence, I pass the following order: ORDER The applicant be released on bail on his executing a personal bond of Rs.10,000/- with one surety of the like amount or cash security in lieu of surety, subject to a condition that the applicant shall not practice as an advocate/legal practitioner/legal advisor/tout or do any act which is prohibited under the Advocates Act, 1961. Breach of the condition would result in cancellation of the bail forthwith. (D.G. KARNIK, J.)