'Ruined Her Life' Bombay High Court Denies Anticipatory Bail To Man Accused Of Rape On False Promise Of Film Role, Posting Pvt Photos Online
The Bombay High Court recently refused to grant anticipatory bail to a man, who allegedly raped a young woman from October 2024 til April this year, under the pretext of soon offering her a role in a film.
The High Court noted that the man, who had 'ill intentions' since beginning, had made the woman's private photos, viral and had "misused her trust".
Presiding over a vacation court, single-judge Justice Shyam Chandak denied anticipatory bail to one Abhijeet Arun Gade, who is apprehending arrest by the police in relation to an FIR lodged under the offences punishable under sections 66E and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and section 69(rape) BNS.
The judge noted that Gade was already married and had a 2 years old daughter and yet he suppressed this fact from the complainant woman and continued with his physical relationship with her on the false pretext of giving her work in a film.
"The Applicant never gave her such a work. Additionally, the Applicant took objectionable photos and videos of the complainant and made it viral on a social platform. The Applicant had no reason to take the objectionable photos and videos of the complainant and make it viral. Therefore, it appears that, since beginning, the Applicant had ill-intention to misuse the photos/videos of the victim. Thus, the Applicant misused the trust invested in him by the complainant. Said act of the Applicant has ruined her life. Therefore, there is a prima facie case of the offence of rape," Justice Chandak held in the order passed on June 1.
According to the FIR, the complaint met Gade in May 2024, for auditions of a film titled 'Dakshin Digvijya' however, he asked her to meet again after 15 days. Then he told her that he was looking for a 'good film story' in which he would give her a role. He then kept meeting the girl at various cafe etc and then their friendship turned into physical relationship in October 2024, when Gade obtained her consent for physical relations by promising that he would give her a role in a film.
The relationship continued until when he told her that he was already married and had a daughter from the said marriage. The couple decided to part ways and that time, Gade made the complainant believe that he deleted all her private photos and videos, which he had shot during their relationship.
However, on January 26, 2026, Gade allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to the complainant threatening her of making her nude photos and videos viral and asked her not to go for any auditions etc. Thereafter, the FIR was lodged after the photos and videos were allegedly made viral on WhatsApp.
"From the text of the report, it appear that, the Applicant has only made a show that he has deleted the subject photos/videos. But later on, he has made those photos viral on a social platform. Therefore, custodial interrogation of the Applicant is essential to collect the important electronic evidence and the device containing the same. The offence is serious in nature. The grant of anticipatory bail will adversely affect fair and effective investigation in this case," Justice Chandak said in the order.
With these observations, the court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea filed by Gade.
Appearance:
Advocates Vipul Dushing along with Krishma Joshi and Ashish Saxena appeared for the Applicant.
Additional Public Prosecutor Rashmi Tendulkar represented the State.
Advocate Jatin Karia (Shah) was appointed to represent the Complainant.
Case Title: Abhijeet Arun Gade vs State of Maharashtra (Anticipatory Bail Application 1311 of 2026)
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 273