High Court of Gujarat
ROHITBHAI SONABHAI MARVADI @ SHAM SONABHAI MARVADIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Decided
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- NIKHIL S KARIEL
Holding
The court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail in the present case.
Summary
The High Court of Gujarat entertained an application for regular bail filed by Rohitbhai Sonabhai Marvadi under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in connection with an FIR alleging offences under the BNS and the POCSO Act. The alleged facts involved a consensual romantic relationship between the 20‑year‑old accused and a 17‑year‑old prosecutrix, with the parties reportedly settling the matter inter se. The court considered the Supreme Court’s observations in State of Uttar Pradesh v. Anurudh (2026 INSC 47) on the misuse of the POCSO Act in consensual adolescent relationships, as well as the precedent of Sanjay Chandra v. CBI (2012). Weighing the age gap, the settlement, and the applicant’s custody since March 2026, the court found no compelling reason to deny bail. Consequently, the court granted regular bail on a bond of Rs.10,000 with a surety and imposed standard conditions, directing that the trial court not be influenced by these preliminary observations.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for offences alleged under the BNS and POCSO Act.
- Whether the consensual nature of the alleged relationship and the inter‑se settlement justify the grant of bail.
- Whether the age difference and the seriousness of the POCSO‑related charges warrant denial of bail.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 483
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS) — s. 137(2), 64(2)(i)(m), 87
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) — s. 12, 4(1), 5(1), 6, 8
Subjects
- regular bail
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- POCSO Act
- consensual relationship
- age of consent
- Section 483
- settlement inter se
- Supreme Court precedent
Judgment
R/CR.MA/10989/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/05/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 10989 of 2026
==========================================================
ROHITBHAI SONABHAI MARVADI @ SHAM SONABHAI MARVADI
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR. AKASH R SALAT(18703) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR. RAJESHKUMAR S MISHRA(9946) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR TRUPESH KATHIRIYA, ADDL. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the
Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIKHIL S. KARIEL
Date : 07/05/2026
ORAL ORDER
Draft amendment, which is already on record, is
granted. To be carried out forthwith.
1. Heard learned advocate Mr.Akash Salat appearing on
behalf of the applicant and learned Additional Public
Prosecutor Mr.Trupesh Kathiriya appearing on behalf of the
respondent-State.
1.1. Learned advocate Mr.Turab Govani submits that he has
instructions to appear on behalf of respondent no.2 and that
he may be permitted to file his Vakalatnama. Affidavit-in-reply
filed by learned advocate Mr.Govani on behalf of the
complainant is taken on record.
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R/CR.MA/10989/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/05/2026
2. Rule. Learned APP waives service of rule on behalf of
the respondent-State and learned advocate Mr.Govani waives
service of rule on behalf of respondent no.2.
3. The applicant has filed this application under Section
483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for
enlarging the applicant on Regular Bail in connection with FIR
being C.R. No. 11192061260183/2026 registered with
Viramgam Town Police Station, Ahmedabad for the offence
punishable under Sections 137(2), 87, 64(2)(i)(m) of the BNS
and Sections 4(1), 5(l), 6, 8, 12 of POCSO Act.
4. Learned advocate for the applicant would submit that
considering the role attributed to the applicant, and nature of
the allegation levelled, the applicant may be enlarged on
regular bail. It is further submitted that no useful purpose
would be served by keeping the applicant in jail for indefinite
period. It is further contended that the applicant is ready and
willing to abide by all the conditions that may be imposed by
this Court if released on bail.
5. As against the same, learned Additional Public
Prosecutor appearing for the respondent – State has
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R/CR.MA/10989/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/05/2026
vehemently objected to the grant of regular bail. Learned APP
has submitted that looking to the nature of offence and the
role attributed to the present applicant, this Court may not
exercise the discretion in favour of the applicant and the
application may be dismissed.
6. I have heard learned advocates appearing on behalf of
the respective parties and perused the papers. Following
aspects are considered:-
i. While the age of the prosecutrix is stated to be around
17 years 01 months, the age of the present applicant being
20 years could not be ignored.
ii. Prima facie, it appears that the applicant and the
prosecutrix were having a love relationship.
iii. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of State of Uttar
Pradesh vs. Anurudh & Anr. reported in 2026 INSC 47
having noted the fact of the POCSO Act being misused even
when the case is one of a romantic / consensual
relationship between adolescents or one where the
prosecutrix / victim is adolescent and where the age gap
between the parties is not substantial.
iv. The fact of the present applicant being in custody since
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R/CR.MA/10989/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/05/2026
17.03.2026.
v. As per the statement made by learned advocates for the
complainant and the prosecutrix, parties have settled the
issue inter-se and whereas, learned advocate Mr.Govani on
behalf of the complainant has tendered affidavit whereby
the complainant has stated as much. Considering the same,
this Court is inclined to allow this application.
This Court has taken into consideration the law laid
down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Sanjay
Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation reported in
[2012] 1 SCC 40.
7. In the facts and circumstances of the case and
considering the nature of the allegations made against the
applicant in the First Information Report, without discussing
the evidence in detail, prima facie, this Court is of the opinion
that this is a fit case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the
applicant on regular bail.
8. Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant
is ordered to be released on bail in connection with F.I.R.
registered as C.R. No. 11192061260183/2026 registered with
Viramgam Town Police Station, Ahmedabad, on executing a
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R/CR.MA/10989/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/05/2026
bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) with one
surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court
and subject to the conditions that he shall;
[a] not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;
[b] not act in a manner injurious to the interest of the
prosecution;
[c] surrender passport, if any, to the lower court within a
week;
[d] not leave the State of Gujarat without prior permission
of the Sessions Court concerned;
[e] furnish the present address of residence to the I.O. and
also to the Court at the time of execution of the bond and
shall not change the residence without prior intimation to
the I.O.;
[f] mark presence once a month for a period of three
months before the concerned police station.
9. The Authorities will release the applicant only if he is not
required in connection with any other offence for the time
being. If breach of any of the above conditions is committed,
the Sessions Court concerned will be free to take appropriate
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R/CR.MA/10989/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/05/2026
action in the matter.
10. Bail bond to be executed before the lower court having
jurisdiction to try the case. It will be open for the concerned
Court to delete, modify and/or relax any of the above
conditions in accordance with law.
11. At the stage of trial, the trial court shall not be
influenced by any observations of this Court which are of
preliminary nature made at this stage, only for the purpose of
considering the application of the applicant for being released
on regular bail.
12. The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. Rule is
made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is
permitted.
(NIKHIL S. KARIEL,J)
Bhoomi
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: BHOOMI YOGESHBHAI MISTRY(HC01557), PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 08/05/2026 12:42:45
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