IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 4626 OF 2008 CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 4626 OF 2008 CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 4626 OF 2008 Sau Sonali Dhanaji Sawant ...Applicant vs. The State of Maharashtra ...Respondent Mr.B.A. Lawate i/b. Mr.R.V. Bansode for the Applicant. Mr.D.P. Adsule, APP for the State. CORAM : V.M. KANADE, J. CORAM : V.M. KANADE, J. CORAM : V.M. KANADE, J. DATED : FEBRUARY 5, 2009 DATED : FEBRUARY 5, 2009 DATED : FEBRUARY 5, 2009 P.C. :- P.C. :- P.C. :- 1. Heard Counsel for the applicant and APP for the State. 2. The applicant is arrested in connection with an offence punishable under Sections 498A, 302, 323 read with 34 of the IPC registered vide C.R.No.115/2008 at Dahiwadi Police Statio, Satara. 3. The only material which is on record against the applicant is in the form of dying declaration of the deceased which is recorded on 25.10.2008 by the Satara Police Station. A charge-sheet has already been filed. There is no other material on record except the dying declaration. In view of this, the applicant deserves to - 2 - be released on bail, particularly, because she is a woman and since the trial is not likely to commence immediately in the near future. 4. The applicant be released on bail in the sum of Rs.5000/- with one or two sureties in the like amount for the aforesaid offence. The applicant shall report to the concerned police station once in a month. 5. I had asked the Government Pleader to take instructions regarding the steps taken by the Government in respect of such cases. 6. The learned APP has filed a copy of the affidavit which has been filed by the Principal Secretary (Appeals and Securities) to the Government of Maharashtra, Home Department, in Criminal Application N.470/2008 in Criminal Appeal No.359/2008 and also another affidavit filed by the Deputy Secretary, women and Child Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, Mantralaya, Mumbai, in which the steps taken by the Government to curb the menace of dowry - 3 - death and women committing suicide on account of harassment at the hands of the in-laws have been elaborately mentioned. I am satisfied that the Government is taking adequate steps to curb menace. Hence, no further directions are necessary. 7. The application is, accordingly, disposed of. (V.M. KANADE, J.) (V.M. KANADE, J.) (V.M. KANADE, J.)