Pune: The Sessions Court has denied the pre-arrest bail application of Akash Saraogi, an accused in a case involving allegations of fraud, assault, and inappropriate conduct, based on a complaint filed by a woman at the Chatuhshrungi Police Station.
The accused, a 29-year-old resident of Konark Nagar in Viman Nagar, filed for bail after a preliminary complaint was lodged, but without formal charges filed by the police, the court deemed the bail application premature and rejected it.
The complaint reveals that the accused and the complainant woman were known to each other. Saraogi allegedly used the complainant’s credit card to make purchases worth ₹15 lakh. He also reportedly demanded money, threatening to tell her family that they had an intimate relationship.
The woman, fearing social repercussions, complied by giving him money. Later, Saraogi allegedly invited her to his residence under the pretense of returning the money, only to demand more. During this encounter, he allegedly verbally abused, assaulted, and behaved indecently toward her. This incident prompted the woman to lodge a formal complaint.
Saraogi’s plea for bail was met with opposition from the complainant’s attorney, Advocate Nikhil Kulkarni. In court, Kulkarni argued that the woman’s complaint alone did not constitute formal charges and that a comprehensive investigation by the police was required, for which the accused’s arrest would be necessary.
The attorney emphasized that the bail application was filed prematurely and that releasing the accused could potentially hinder the ongoing inquiry.
In its decision, the court noted that substantial evidence had not been presented to justify fears of imminent charges against the accused. Judge S.B. Rathod stated that if adequate grounds had been provided in the complaint, the police would have immediately registered formal charges.
In the absence of strong documentary evidence, the court found that the accused’s fears of arrest were unfounded, concluding that it would be inappropriate to grant bail under these circumstances. Accordingly, the court rejected Saraogi’s pre-arrest bail application.
