1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY APPELLATE SIDE Criminal Application No.3193 of 2008 Rajendrakumar Sadanand Chalke Applicant Vs. The State of Maharashtra Respondent Mr.A.P.Mundargi, Sr.Cousnel with Mr.V.V.Purwant for applicant. Mr.H.J.Dedhiya, APP for State. CORAM: D.B.BHOSALE, J. October 20, 2008. P.C. . Heard Mr.Mundargi, learned Senior Counsel for the applicant and Mr. Dedhiya, learned APP. . The applicant is seeking bail in C.R.No.72 of 2007 of Mangalwedha Police Station, Pandharpur. The said crime has been registered against the applicant for an offence punishable under Sections 406, 408, 409 464, 465, 467, 468, 471, 477(A), 217, 218, 166, 167, 120(B) read with Section 34 of IPC. . The present applicant, at the relevant time, was working as Tahsildar, Mangalwedha. He along with 7-8 others was involved in issuance of some cheques 2 which are subject matter of this criminal prosecution, wherein fraudulent encashment of cheques and misappropriation are alleged. The applicant came to be arrested in connection with this offence on 2nd October 2007. Investigation is complete and the charge-sheet is already filed. . Mr.Mundargi, the learned Senior Counsel for the applicant invited my attention to the orders passed by this Court in Criminal Application Nos.708/2008 and 883/2008 and submitted that the role assigned to the applicants in these two applications and the present applicant is identical and, therefore, the present applicant is entitled for bail on parity. Submission of Mr.Mundargi has not been controverted by the learned APP. The only submission advanced by the learned APP was that the present applicant was absconding for six months. Even if that is taken as true, the fact remains that he is in custody since 2nd October 2007. Keeping that in view and considering the submissions of Mr. Mundargi, I am inclined to allow this application. Hence the following order: . Applicant - Rajendra Sadanand Chalke is directed to be enlarged on bail in the sum of 3 Rs.50,000/- with one or two sureties of the like amount subject to the condition that he shall report to the concerned police station, every alternate Saturday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. till conclusion of the trial and to the State CID, Pune as and when called. He shall co-operate with the investigating agency for disposal of the case. . While passing this order I shall not be understood to have expressed any opinion on merits of the case and the trial Court shall deal with the case without being influenced by the observations made in the order. . The application is disposed of accordingly.