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High Court of Gujarat

ASHISH @ AASHU S/O SONUBHAI RAGHUNATH KATHERIYAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that regular bail should be granted in the present case.

Summary

The applicant, Ashish Katheriya, filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 after a chargesheet was filed for offences under Sections 109(1), 115(2), 296(b) and 54 of the BNS and Section 135(1) of the Gujarat Police Act. The State opposed bail, alleging the applicant inflicted knife injuries on the complainant. The Court examined the completed investigation, the fact that the injured party had recovered, and the principles of bail jurisprudence, including the presumption of liberty under Article 21 and precedents such as Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor. Considering the nature of the allegations, the lack of any pending recovery, and the risk of pre‑trial detention amounting to a de facto conviction, the Court exercised its discretion to grant regular bail with a personal bond and several conditions. The applicant was released on bail subject to those conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a chargesheet for offences under the BNSS and Gujarat Police Act.
  • Whether the nature of the alleged offences and the circumstances of the case justify denial of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailchargesheetBharatiya Nagarik Suraksha SanhitaGujarat Police Actpre‑trial libertyArticle 21bail jurisprudence

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/13049/2026                                ORDER DATED: 12/06/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

    R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
                CHARGESHEET) NO. 13049 of 2026

==========================================================
       ASHISH @ AASHU S/O SONUBHAI RAGHUNATH KATHERIYA
                             Versus
                       STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR TARUN H RAWAT(13044) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR ADITYA JADEJA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                                Date : 12/06/2026

                                    ORDER


[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-State.

[2.0] The present application is filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) for regular bail in
connection with FIR being C.R. No. 11191024260111 of 2026 registered
with Ramol Police Station, Ahmedabad City, for the offences under
Sections 109(1), 115(2), 296(b) and 54 of the BNS and Section 135 (1) of the
GP Act.

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the offence.
Investigation is over and chargesheet has been filed. Nothing is required to
be recovered or discovered. He therefore submits that, considering the
nature of the offence, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail by
imposing suitable conditions.

[4.0] Learned APP appearing on behalf of the respondent-State has opposed
the present application and requested to dismiss the present application for
regular bail on the ground that the applicant has inflicted knife blows on the
complainant and caused serious injuries and considering the gravity of
offence, no case is made out to entertain present bail application.


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   R/CR.MA/13049/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 12/06/2026




Therefore, present application does not deserve consideration.

[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
accused in the alleged offence, the jurisdiction to grant bail has to be
exercised on the basis of the well settled principles having regard to the
facts and circumstances of each case and the following factors are to be
taken into consideration while considering an application for bail: (i) the
nature of accusation and the severity of the punishment and the nature of
the materials relied upon by the prosecution; (ii) reasonable apprehension
of tampering with the witnesses and threat to the complainant or the
witnesses; (iii) reasonable possibility of securing the presence of the
accused at the time of trial or the likelihood of his abscondence; (iv)
character behaviour and standing of the accused and the circumstances
which are peculiar to the accused; (v) larger interest of the public or the
State and similar other considerations are required to be considered.

[6.0] I have heard the learned advocates appearing on behalf of the
respective parties and perused the investigation papers. Following aspects
have been considered:

      (1)     Investigation is over and chargesheet has been filed;
      (2)     Applicant is behind the bar since 04.02.2026;
      (3)     There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
              applicant;
      (4)     Injured is out of danger and discharged from the hospital;
      (56)    Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take
              its own time.

[7.0] This Court has also taken into consideration the law laid down by the
Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Sanjay Chandra vs. Central Bureau of
Investigation reported in [2012]1 SCC 40 as well as in the case of
Gudikanti Narasimhulu And Ors vs. Public Prosecutor, High Court of
Andhra Pradesh reported in (1978)1 SCC 240. Obviously, the conclusion of



                                   Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/13049/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 12/06/2026




trial will take time and keeping the accused behind the bars is nothing but
amounts to pre-trial conviction and therefore, considering the celebrated
principle of bail jurisprudence is that “bail is a rule and jail is exception” as
well as the concept of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the
Constitution of India, present application deserves consideration.

[8.0] In the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the nature
of the allegations made against the applicant in the FIR, 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.
Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to be
released on regular bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No.
11191024260111 of 2026 registered with Ramol Police Station,
Ahmedabad City, on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees
Twenty-five Thousand only) with one surety of the like amount to the
satisfaction of the trial Court and subject to the conditions that he/she shall;

   (a)     not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;
   (b)     not act in a manner injurious to the interest of the prosecution &
           shall not obstruct or hamper the police investigation and shall not
           to play mischief with the evidence collected or yet to be collected
           by the police;
   (c)     surrender passport, if any, to the Trial Court within a week;
   (d)     not leave the State of Gujarat without prior permission of the Trial
           Court concerned;
   (e)     mark presence before the concerned police station every 15 days
           for a period of three months;
   (f)     furnish the Aadhaar card, email ID/present address of his
           residence to the Investigating Officer and also to the Court at the
           time of execution of the bond and shall not change the residence/
           contact number without prior permission of Trial Court;
   (g)     not to indulge in any illegal activity failing which learned trial



                                    Page 3 of 4
      R/CR.MA/13049/2026                                                       ORDER DATED: 12/06/2026




               Court shall issue warrant and cancel the bail of the applicant.
[9.0] 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 Judge concerned will be free to
issue warrant or take appropriate action in the matter.

[10.0] 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.

[11.0] At the trial, the trial Court shall not be influenced by the observations
of preliminary nature qua the evidence at this stage made by this Court
while enlarging the applicant on bail.

[12.0] Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is
permitted.



                                                                         (HASMUKH D. SUTHAR,J)

SUCHIT




Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: PATEL SUCHIT JAYESHBHAI(HC01083), Private Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 12/06/2026 17:29:57

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