VILAS Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The applicant is arraigned as accused in Crime 1228/2021 registered with Police Station Washim (City), District Washim for offences punishable under Ss. 315, 511, 419 read with Sec. 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Ss. 3, 4 and 5 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

(2.) At the very outset, the learned counsel for the applicant Mr. Kadu submitted that since the co-accused whose hospital was raided is released on bail, on the principle of parity the applicant is entitled to similar relief.

(3.) In response, the learned APP Mrs. Deshpande would submit that the applicant has been indulging in soliciting patients and actively assisting or abetting illegal abortions and there is room to suspect that he may be involved in female infanticide. Mrs. Deshpande points out that further investigation is ongoing and certain incriminatory material including sonography test report etc. is extracted from the mobile phone of the applicant which is seized. Mrs. Deshpande is seriously opposing grant of bail. Her submission is that the principle of parity has no application.