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 works →Regular Bail
Bail after arrest, argued on the merits, custody period and settled bail jurisprudence.
How it works →498A / Matrimonial FIRs
Defence in dowry-cruelty allegations — now Section 85–86 BNS — for husbands and families.
How it works →Trials & Quashing
Sessions trials, appeals, and quashing petitions before the Bombay High Court where the case merits it.
How it works →02The 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.
Adv. Indrajit Dongre
Leads this practice, appearing before Pune's courts since 1998. Assisted by Adv. Nitesh Bhalerao and Adv. Prajapat Rajender.