Bombay HC denies bail to Satara judge in bribery

The Bombay High Court has denied pre-arrest bail to Dhananjay Nikam, a judge in Satara, accused of soliciting a ₹5 lakh bribe for granting bail in a cheating case. The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau claims Nikam sought the bribe through two intermediaries. He has denied the allegations, asserting his innocence and stating he was not involved in any discussions about the bribe. Nikam's application for bail was rejected after the court heard arguments from both sides. He maintains that he was on leave during the alleged incidents and had no knowledge of any related meetings.