01Who this page is for
Criminal matters in Pune proceed before the Magistrate and Sessions Courts under the new codes — the BNS and BNSS (which replaced the IPC and CrPC). Anticipatory bail, where available, should be sought before any police attendance; regular bail follows arrest. Timing and preparation of the bail application decide most outcomes at this stage.
Most clients call us at the worst hour — an FIR registered, a notice received, a family member detained. The order of operations matters enormously: protection first, statements never without advice, and a defence built from the chargesheet's weaknesses.
Anticipatory Bail
Protection before arrest under Section 482 BNSS — moved at the Sessions Court or High Court with a prepared application.
How it worksRegular Bail
Bail after arrest, argued on the merits, custody period and settled bail jurisprudence.
How it works498A / Matrimonial FIRs
Defence in dowry-cruelty allegations — now Section 85–86 BNS — for husbands and families.
How it worksTrials & Quashing
Sessions trials, appeals, and quashing petitions before the Bombay High Court where the case merits it.
How it works02The process, step by step
A criminal matter typically moves through these stages:
Immediate assessment
FIR obtained and read closely. Exposure, arrest risk and the bail forum are decided the same day.
Day 1Bail / anticipatory bail
The application is drafted on the FIR's actual weaknesses and moved at the earliest listing.
Days to 3 weeksInvestigation stage
Statements, if any, are made with advice. We track the investigation to the chargesheet.
1–6 monthsTrial or closure
Discharge applications where the chargesheet is weak; a prepared defence at trial where it is not.
Case-dependent03Documents required
Bring to the first meeting
- Copy of the FIR (we can obtain it if you don't have it)
- Any notice received (Section 35 BNSS / summons)
- Messages, emails or documents relevant to the allegation
- Names and details of witnesses
- Prior orders, if any (earlier bail, protection orders)
- Medical records, if injuries are alleged
04Honest timelines
Anticipatory bail applications are commonly decided within days to three weeks. Trials before the Sessions Court run one to four years depending on witnesses and the court's board. What we control is preparation — matters are won at the bail stage and in cross-examination, not in the corridor.
05Mistakes we see every month
- Attending the police station without adviceVoluntary statements made 'to clear things up' become the prosecution's foundation.
- Ignoring a notice under Section 35 BNSSNon-appearance converts a bailable situation into an arrest — respond, but respond advised.
- Negotiating directly with the complainantIn cognizable matters it reads as tampering. Settlement, where lawful, has a proper route.
- Choosing a lawyer who promises outcomesNo honest criminal lawyer guarantees results. Preparation and the record decide cases.
06Fees, discussed upfront
Every engagement begins with a written understanding of the fee structure — consultation, drafting, appearances — before any work starts. We will tell you plainly at the first meeting what your matter involves, and you will never see a charge we did not explain.
What happens at your first consultation
- You talk, we listen. Bring whatever papers you have, organised or not. There is no form to fill and nothing to prepare.
- We tell you where you stand — including the weaknesses in your position. An advocate who only tells you good news is not advising you.
- You get options, not pressure. Sometimes the honest answer is that you do not need to file anything yet.
- Fees in writing before any work begins, so no invoice ever surprises you.
Everything you say is privileged, whether or not you engage the firm. Consultations are held in Marathi, Hindi or English — in person at Kasba Peth, or over video.
Adv. Indrajit Dongre
Leads this practice, appearing before Pune's courts since 1998. Assisted by Adv. Nitesh Bhalerao and Adv. Prajapat Rajender.
07Frequently asked questions
What changed with the new criminal laws?
How fast can anticipatory bail be obtained in Pune?
Will I have to go to jail if an FIR is filed against me?
Can a false 498A case be quashed?
Reading on criminal matters
- A 498A FIR was filed. Why nobody has been arrested yet9 min read
- Arrested without written grounds? What the law now requires8 min read
- Anticipatory bail under Section 482 BNSS: where it is barred, and what conditions come with it8 min read
- Two years of the BNS and BNSS: what is settled, what is still moving, and what it means in Pune10 min read
Choosing between advocates? Our checklist for choosing a lawyer in Pune covers which court hears your matter, how to verify an advocate's Bar Council enrolment yourself, what fee structures are normal, and the questions worth asking at a first meeting — ours included.