LiveLaw Bombay High Court Weekly Round-Up: September 28 - October 4, 2026

Citations:  2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 479 to 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 491

Nominal Index

Sadashiv Ambadas Gayake vs State of Maharashtra, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 479

A vs State of Maharashtra, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 480

Kalim Isaq Shaikh vs State of Maharashtra, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 481

All India Travel Services vs Ashok K Upadhayay, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 482

Narayan Tatu Rane vs Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 483

X vs Union of India, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 484

Lawyers Collective vs Union of India, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 485

Serum Institute of India vs Yohan Tengra, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 486

Nikhil Madhukar Thepale vs State of Maharashtra, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 487

Samantha Ruth Prabhu vs John Does, Ashok Kumar, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 488

Rani Pratap Singh vs State of Maharashtra, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 489

Pawan Subhash Sarkale vs State of Maharashtra, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 490

M/s. Economy Engineering Co vs M/s. The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd, 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 491

Judgments & Final Orders

Filing Numerous Proceedings Against Someone As Per Law Can't Invite Prosecution For Suicide Abetment: Bombay High Court

Case Title: Sadashiv Ambadas Gayake vs State of Maharashtra

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 479

A complainant filing number of proceedings as per law against someone cannot be booked under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code which penalises abetment to suicide only because the proposed accused, later on commits suicide, held the Bombay High Court recently while observing that if such a complaint in such circumstances is prosecuted, people involved in criminal activities will never face action for their wrongdoings.

Bombay High Court Denies Bail To Man Accused Of Assaulting 6-Year-Old Neighbour, Says Trust Reposed In Him Was 'Completely Eroded'

Case Title: A vs State of Maharashtra

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 480

The Bombay High Court recently while denying bail to a man booked for sexually assaulting a minor girl from his neighbourhood, observed that granting him bail would send a wrong message to the society at large as he has decimated the sanctity of the pure relationship between neighbourhood uncle and a minor girl, who are like a father and daughter.

Producing Arrested Person In Court Within 24 Hours Not Sufficient; Accused Must Be Produced Before Nearest Magistrate: Bombay High Court

Case Title: Kalim Isaq Shaikh vs State of Maharashtra

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 481

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (September 29) held that merely producing an arrested person before a court within 24 hours is not sufficient but the said person must be produced before a 'nearest' Magistrate. A division bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice Ranjitsinha Bhonsale therefore granted bail to one Kalim Shaikh, who was arrested from Barshi in Solapur district and brought to Mira Road, nearby Mumbai and produced here.

Unregistered Partnership Firms Can Claim Statutory Tenancy Rights Under Bombay Rent Act: High Court

Case Title: All India Travel Services vs Ashok K Upadhayay

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 482

The Bombay High Court has held that an unregistered partnership firm in occupation of premises as a licensee on February 1, 1973, can claim the benefit of Section 15-A of the Bombay Rent Control Act, 1947. The Court observed that the right conferred by Section 15-A is statutory in nature and the bar under Section 69(2) of the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 applies to enforcement of contractual rights and not statutory rights.

Bombay High Court Upholds Union Minister Narayan Rane's Election, Rejects Plea Alleging Corrupt Practice

Case Title: Narayan Tatu Rane vs Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 483

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (September 29) rejected an election petition filed by Vinayak Raut, a candidate from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Faction), who challenged the election of BJP leader and Union Home Minister Narayan Rane to the 18th Lok Sabha from the Sindhudurg Constituency.

Bombay High Court Grants 8-Month Interim Bail To Woman Accused In Drugs Case To Care For Newborn

Case Title: X vs Union of India

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 484

The Bombay High Court recently granted eight months interim bail to a woman booked in a case under the stringent Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, after noting that her prematurely born eight-month-old daughter is in a precarious condition.

Bombay High Court Allows Lawyers Collective's Plea For Opportunity To File FCRA Compounding Application

Case Title: Lawyers Collective vs Union of India

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 485

The Bombay High Court has allowed the Lawyers Collective an opportunity to file a compounding application in relation to the offence under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA). The Court observed that once the requirements under Rule 21 of the FCRA Rules, 2011 are complied with, the right to seek compounding cannot be denied.

Bombay High Court Orders X Corp To Delete Objectionable Content Against Adar Poonawala Over Alleged Side-Effects Of Covid Vaccine

Case Title: Serum Institute of India vs Yohan Tengra

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 486

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (September 29) directed X Corp (formerly Twitter) to delete the objectionable content posted on its platform by certain persons against Covishield vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII) and its CEO Adar Poonawala.

Circulating Objectionable Photos On WhatsApp Is 'Within Public View', Can Attract SC/ST Act: Bombay High Court

Case Title: Nikhil Madhukar Thepale vs State of Maharashtra

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 487

In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has held that the act of circulating objectionable videos or photographs of a person belong to a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe on a social media platform like WhatsApp, would attract the provisions of the stringent Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as the same is within the 'public view.'

Bombay High Court Protects Samantha Ruth Prabhu's Personality Rights, Says Social Media Platforms Must Exercise Due Diligence

Case Title: Samantha Ruth Prabhu vs John Does, Ashok Kumar

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 488

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (October 1) while protecting the personality rights of South Indian film actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, ordered Google, Meta Platforms and other social media platforms and John Doe (unknown parties), to pull down the objectionable and derogatory content uploaded featuring her.

That Trafficking Victim Is A Bangladeshi Immigrant Is No Defence : Bombay High Court Upholds Brothel Owner's Conviction

Case Title: Rani Pratap Singh vs State of Maharashtra

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 489

In a strongly worded judgment, the Bombay High Court on Thursday (October 1) held that a Indian Citizen booked for running a brothel and forcing a woman into prostitution cannot be spared just because the woman is an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh as this would be nothing but 'victim shaming.' The High Court said that labels such as 'illegal immigrant' does not strip the woman's dignity and protection against trafficking.

Mere Demand Of Exorbitant Amount As Settlement To Withdraw Litigation Not "Extortion": Bombay High Court

Case Title: Pawan Subhash Sarkale vs State of Maharashtra

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 490

The Bombay High Court has held that merely demanding an exorbitant or disproportionate amount during settlement talks does not by itself attract Section 385 of the Indian Penal Code or constitute an offence of extortion. The Court observed that an intentional threat or fear of injury is an essential ingredient of the offence, and quashed the FIR against the flat purchasers.

Conversion Of Proprietorship To Family-Owned Private Limited Company Not 'Subletting' Under Public Premises Act: Bombay High Court

Case Title: M/s Economy Engineering Co. vs M/s The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 491 

The Bombay High Court has held that conversion of a proprietorship concern into a partnership firm and subsequently into a private limited company comprising the original tenant's family members does not amount to subletting where no third person is inducted into the business. The Court further held that the 2015 amendment to Section 5 of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, replacing “may” with “shall”, has prospective effect.

Other Developments:

Bombay High Court Refuses Urgent Hearing Of Plea Challenging 14 Orders By CEC Gyanesh Kumar Allegedly Passed Despite Objections By ECs

The Kolhapur bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday (September 28) refused to grant an urgent hearing to a writ petition challenging the 14 actions allegedly taken by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, allegedly despite objections by the other two Election Commissioners, Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi.

Maharashtra SIR | Bombay High Court To Hear Plea Seeking Safeguards Against Wrongful Voter Exclusion On October 5

The Bombay High Court on Monday (September 28) agreed to hear the petition claiming numerous flaws in the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Maharashtra and posted the matter for hearing on October 5. The petition filed on behalf of two businessmen, was mentioned before a division bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna stating that an important issue is raised in the said petition as it concerns the rights of citizens.

Antilia Bomb Scare Case: Three Judges Of Bombay High Court Recuse From Hearing NIA Appeal Against Bail Granted To Sachin Waze

After a special court granted bail to dismissed cop Sachin Waze in the infamous Antilia Bomb Scare case, at least three judges of the Bombay High Court have recused from hearing the appeal filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenging the bail order.

Antilia Bomb Scare Case: Bombay High Court Stays Bail Granted To Sachin Waze; Lists NIA Appeal In October

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday stayed the special court's order granting bail to dismissed police officer Sachin Waze in the Antilia bomb scare case. The development comes in an appeal preferred by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Women Safety: Bombay High Court Seeks State's Reply On Plea Alleging Public Vehicles Registered Without Mandatory Tracking Devices, Panic Buttons

A writ petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court highlighting a major deviation from the rules which can compromise the safety of women in Maharashtra as the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have been approving and registering public service vehicles such as buses, cabs, autorickshaws etc even if they have not installed the Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD).

Bombay High Court Flags MP Parth Pawar's 99% Stake In Firm That Bought Govt Land At Discount; DGP To Monitor Further Probe

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (October 1) flagged that Parth Pawar, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and a Rajya Sabha MP, holds 99% stake in Ameida Enterprises LLP, which allegedly purchased a 40-acre government-owned land parcel in Pune's Mundhwa area at a price much lower than its actual value.

Goa SIR: Bombay High Questions ECI Over Automated Rejection Of Form 8

The Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday (October 1) sought to know from the Election Commission of India (ECI) as to why Form 8 applications meant for changing the address in the Voter ID were being rejected by its automated software system, during the ongoing process of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the State.