Pune: Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Ex-MLA Ravindra Dhangekar, Wife; Rejects MNS Leader’s Plea in Suicide Case

Pune, 24th July 2026: The sessions court in Pune on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to former MLA Ravindra Dhangekar and his wife in a case related to the alleged abetment of a building contractor’s suicide, while rejecting a similar plea filed by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Bala Shedge.

Additional Sessions Judge Aniruddha Gandhi granted pre-arrest bail to Ravindra and Pratibha Dhangekar on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each with one surety of the like amount, subject to conditions. However, the court refused anticipatory bail to Shedge, noting that his name figured in the deceased’s purported suicide note and in a video allegedly recorded before his death.

The case stems from the July 16 suicide of Khalil Shaikh (65), a building centring contractor and labour supplier, at his Gultekdi residence. Based on a complaint filed by his wife, Sultana Shaikh, Swargate police booked Ravindra Dhangekar, Pratibha Dhangekar, Shedge, Raghunath Gauda and eight others on charges including abetment of suicide.

According to the FIR, Shaikh alleged in a video recorded before his death that he had been cheated in business. A purported suicide note was also found pasted outside his residence. The complaint accused the suspects of withholding payments owed to him, pushing him into severe financial distress. It further alleged that Shedge threatened Shaikh, seized his centring material used for construction work and subjected him to sustained harassment.

While granting relief to the Dhangekar couple, the court observed that Ravindra Dhangekar’s name did not appear in the suicide note and that he had no direct business dealings with the deceased. The court also noted that Pratibha Dhangekar had retired from the partnership firm linked to the construction business on August 19, 2025, and therefore had no connection with the deceased’s business at the relevant time.

Holding that custodial interrogation of the Dhangekar couple was not necessary, the court granted them anticipatory bail while denying the same relief to Shedge. Advocate Vijay Thombre appeared for the Dhangekars.