Advocate Pritesh Prabhu, facing charges of molestation, misconduct and stalking from two separate cases registered in August and October 2024; has been allowed release from jail after the High Court of Bombay at Goa modified certain bail conditions.
Prabhu was granted conditional bail in April 2025 but remained in custody at Colvale Central Jail as he was unable to comply with the original requirements. One of the conditions required executing a P R Bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety in the like amount, to be executed before the Sessions Court, South Goa, at Margao. Prabhu said he could not arrange the surety after the death of his father, a senior lawyer, who allegedly died by suicide soon after the first case was registered.
Justice Shreeram Shirsat permitted Prabhu to deposit cash of Rs 20,000 in lieu of a surety for four weeks. The Court accepted his submission that he had been unable to find a guarantor after his father’s death.
“The applicant shall execute a personal bond in the sum of Rs 20,000 and, in lieu of surety, shall temporarily deposit cash of the like amount for a period of four weeks from the date of his release,” the Court ruled.
Prabhu’s counsel argued that his client had no family members to help arrange surety. “The applicant doesn't have any family members who would support him to find out any surety and, as such, till date, no surety could be found. The applicant's father recently committed suicide due to financial crisis being faced by the family, and as such, the applicant is unable to arrange for a surety,” his lawyer submitted, requesting that the Court allow a cash deposit for a limited period.
Prabhu’s father, in his suicide note, had accused a lady police constable and a few constables of harassing the family over his son’s alleged involvement in the crime.
Meanwhile, Prabhu also sought modification of two other bail conditions -- restrictions on his movement in Margao and nearby villages, and mandatory disclosure of Aadhaar and contact details. The bail condition also mentioned that he shall enter the precincts of Margao city only on the days when he is required to attend the hearing of these matters.
His advocate submitted that since Prabhu is practising in the Courts in Margao, he should be allowed to enter the city.
However, Justice Shirsat refused to relax this restriction. “I am not inclined to modify the condition... as the Court is required to consider the safety of the victims. The said condition will continue to operate,” the order stated.
The Court also declined to ease the requirement for disclosure of personal information, directing Prabhu to provide his Aadhaar, full residential address, email ID and phone details. “If the applicant obtains a new functional mobile number, he shall provide the same to the investigating officer,” the Bench ruled.
