Mumbai High Court’s Nagpur Bench grants interim protection to three women in APS Wealth Ventures fraud case, noting lack of evidence and misuse of law in commercial disputes against uninvolved family members.
PUNE/NAGPUR | July 12, 2025: In a major relief from the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench, three women accused in a multi-crore financial fraud case linked to APS Wealth Ventures LLP, a Pune-based investment firm, have been granted interim protection from arrest in their anticipatory bail application.
The FIR, registered at Khadan Police Station, Akola on April 12, 2025, alleges offences under Sections 406, 420, 506 read with 34 of the IPC, involving alleged inducement and cheating of ₹89.5 lakh. The accused women—Mrs. Asha Datta Chavhan, Mrs. Khushboo Pranay Pawar, and Mrs. Rukhmina Arjun Rathod—had earlier been denied anticipatory bail by the Sessions Court in Akola on June 23.
Represented by Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava, the applicants contended that they had no role in the company’s operations, had not induced the complainant in any form, and were being dragged into the case merely for being related to the main accused. All three are women—some elderly and homemakers—with no prior criminal background.
On July 11, 2025, Justice Urmila S Joshi Phalke granted interim protection from arrest to the three women and issued notice to the State of Maharashtra, directing it to respond. The matter is scheduled for further hearing.
Speaking on the order, Advocate Srivastava remarked, “The Hon’ble Court rightly recognized that criminal law should not be used to harass uninvolved family members in civil or commercial disputes. This order safeguards the rights and dignity of innocent women.”
The applicants had earlier cooperated with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Pune, in a related case involving the same company. The EOW reportedly found no evidence linking them to the fraudulent transactions.
Legal experts have welcomed the decision, underlining the increasing misuse of criminal law in commercial disputes and the need for courts to apply careful scrutiny, especially when women or senior citizens are named without evidence.
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