Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to grant pre-arrest bail to a sessions court judge booked in a bribery case. Dhananjay Nikam, 45, Satara District and Sessions Judge was booked by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to grant bail in a cheating case.
Nikam approached HC seeking anticipatory bail claiming innocence and that he was implicated in the case. Justice NR Borkar, who heard the matter in chamber as it involved a judicial officer, rejected the application saying the court was not inclined to grant any relief. A detailed order copy will be made available later.
In his plea, filed through advocate Viresh Purvant, Nikam claimed innocence, asserting that he had been falsely implicated. He argued that the FIR does not show any direct demand or acceptance of money by him.
He further contended that he was neither aware of meetings between the complainant and the other accused — Kishor Sambhaji Kharat from Mumbai and Anand Mohan Kharat from Satara — nor of the complainant’s connection to the accused seeking bail. The plea also highlighted that Nikam was on leave or deputation on key dates, raising doubts about the allegations.
The ACB claimed that the bribe demand was verified during their investigation between December 3 and 9, 2024, confirming that Nikam, in collusion with the Kharats, sought the bribe. The ACB has booked Nikam, the Kharats, and an unidentified individual under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
