VASANT LAXMAN JUVEKAR Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is an application for grant of anticipatory bail. Heard Shri Balkrishna Joshi, learned Advocate for the Applicants and Shri Tulpule, learned P.P. for the State.

(2.) THE dispute is between the petitioners on the one hand and one of the members of the Co-operative Housing Society on the other and at the instance of the said Member Administrator has lodged a complaint with the Police and C.R.No.I-229 of 1997 is registered by the Navpada Police Station, Thane. For the purpose of the present application, it is not necessary to go into various details stated in the application. It is sufficient to point out that as per the allegations made in the application, there was an unofficial meeting of the Members of the Society i.e. Sanmitra Cooperative Housing Society Ltd. on 17.8.1991 wherein three persons including Applicant No.1 were appointed to receive cash from all members. The members were to be given additional P.S.I. and cash was to be collected and deposited in the joint account of the three persons including the Applicant No.1 herein. According to the Applicants, some amount from the said deposit in the Bank was paid to the contractor Limaye and the balance amount is still lying in the joint account in the Bank. The possession of the premises was given to the respective members in November 1996 onwards and also to the Member at whose instance the complaint is filed by the Administrator. The complaint has been filed on 17.6.1997. In view of the long delay in filing the complaint and the fact that no other member of the Society has so far joined the complainant for filing any such complaint. I find that this is a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail.