Bombay High Court denies anticipatory bail to Satara sessions judge in bribery case

This article discusses the Bombay High Court's denial of anticipatory bail to a Satara District and Sessions Judge, Dhananjay Nikam, in a bribery case. Justice NR Borkar rejected Nikam's plea after hearing arguments from both Nikam and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Nikam is accused of soliciting a ₹5 lakh bribe in exchange for granting bail in a cheating case, allegedly through intermediaries. The ACB's investigation claimed Nikam's involvement and collusion with the intermediaries. Nikam denied the accusations, stating a lack of direct evidence and his absence from the case during the alleged bribe discussions. The High Court had previously requested CCTV footage from a Satara HDFC Bank branch to verify a claimed incriminating conversation between Nikam and the complainant. Ultimately, the court denied anticipatory bail to Nikam.