Pune: A Pune court rejected the pre-arrest bail application of businessman Sanjay Bramhanand Agarwal, accused of allegedly misappropriating ₹ 97.01 lakh in a dispute involving the sale of 16 four-wheelers. The court observed that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning an Audi Q7 contained a false statement about the loss of the vehicle’s original documents, indicating fraudulent intention.
The investigation is underway. His lawyer also cited the absence of a written agreement, unsettled accounts, inconsistencies in the FIR and lack of criminal antecedents. The defence argued that custodial interrogation was unnecessary and police could not be used as a recovery agency.
Additional sessions judge SR Pawar rejected Agarwal’s application on August 29. An FIR was registered at Deccan police station on April 4, 2026, under Sections 316(2), 316(5) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Agarwal argued that the dispute was civil and contractual, pointing out that an earlier complaint filed with Wakad police had been examined by the ACP, who concluded in December 2024 that it was a civil dispute.
The court also considered a May 20, 2026 order rejecting regular bail to a co-accused, in which the transaction was viewed as involving alleged misappropriation by a merchant or agent. Agarwal had earlier received interim protection from arrest on April 10. The judge observed that although the MOU was not forged or executed through personation, it contained a false statement about the loss of the documents. In light of the material gathered during the investigation, the court declined to extend that protection and rejected his pre-arrest bail application.
“From this document itself fraudulent intentions of the applicant can be gathered,” the court said, adding that the case was therefore not purely a civil transaction.
The prosecution opposed the plea, alleging that Agarwal had agreed before the ACP to repay the amount but failed to do so, had not cooperated with the investigation and had threatened the informant by claiming underworld connections.
