Pen Councillor Gets Pre-Arrest Bail in Criminal Intimidation Case

Justice Sandeep Shinde recently granted anticipatory bail to councillor Anirudh Patil in the case lodged against him at Pen police station in Maharashtra's Raigad district under IPC Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

As per the prosecution, Mr Patil and the complainant Ms Ranjana Dave got into a verbal argument during a meeting of the Pen Municipal Council's standing committee. The complainant was miffed over non-issuance of notice to a person alleged to have carried out illegal construction in Pen.

The incident took an ugly turn when Mr Patil allegedly raised his voice against the complainant. The prosecution also contended that the accused tried to assault the complainant twice.

Patil's Counsel Shirish Gupte told the court that the incident was unintentional, and was a result of misunderstanding due to the issue of illegal constructions affecting residents of Pen.

Gupte also submitted to the court Patil's written apology to the complainant.

Justice Shinde said, "Upon reading the complaint, it not only suggests that the applicant (Patil) humiliated the chief officer (complainant) who was at the helm of affairs of the local authority, but by his gestures and disgraceful conduct deterred the chief officer from discharging her duties."

Bombay HC took note of the apology and granted pre-arrest bail to Mr Patil on a bond of Rs 25,000.

The court directed him to appear before the police station concerned and cooperate with the investigation into the case.