AJAY S/O ANANTRAV MULURAV KUSHVAHversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The court granted regular bail to the applicant, finding the case fit for bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Summary
The applicant, Ajay, was charged under Sections 108, 80(2), 85 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3 and 7 of the Dowry Prohibition Act for alleged mental and physical cruelty that led to his wife's suicide. He had been in custody since 18‑02‑2026 and filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 after the charge‑sheet was filed. The court examined factors such as the nature of the offence, the maximum punishment (ten years), the applicant’s clean antecedent, and parity with co‑accused who were granted bail. Relying on precedents and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, the court found the case suitable for bail. Consequently, the application was allowed and the applicant was released on regular bail subject to a personal bond and several conditions.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a charge‑sheet for offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act
- Whether the nature of the offences and the maximum ten‑year punishment justify bail
- Whether there is a risk of tampering with evidence, witness intimidation, or absconding
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 483
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023s. 108, s. 54, s. 80(2), s. 85
- Dowry Prohibition Acts. 3, s. 7
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/13122/2026 ORDER DATED: 15/06/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
CHARGESHEET) NO. 13122 of 2026
==========================================================
AJAY S/O ANANTRAV MULURAV KUSHVAH
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR SAJID Y KARIYANIYA(9619) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR ADITYA JADEJA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 15/06/2026
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.11211057260223 of 2026 registered with
City ‘A’ Division Police Station, District Surendranagar for the offences
punishable under Sections 108, 80(2), 85 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNS”) and sections 3 and 7 of the Dowry
Prohibition Act.
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the offence and now
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 looking to the nature and gravity of the offence.
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R/CR.MA/13122/2026 ORDER DATED: 15/06/2026
[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) The applicant is the husband and marriage span is 4 & ½ years and
allegation is that applicant alongwith co-accused caused mental and
physical cruelty to the complainant due to which the wife
committed suicide however, now the investigation is over and
charge-sheet is filed;
(2) None of the offence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
death penalty and maximum punishment prescribed is 10 years ;
(3) Applicant is behind the bars since 18.02.2026;
(4) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(5) The applicant is not having any past antecedent;
(6) Similarly situated co-accused have been considered for bail and and
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R/CR.MA/13122/2026 ORDER DATED: 15/06/2026
hence, applicant is entitled to get the benefit of parity in view
of decision in the case of Ramesh Batukbhai Dabhi vs. State
of Gujarat reported in 2011 (3) GLR 1150;
(7) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some
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
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.11211057260223 of 2026 registered with City ‘A’ Division Police
Station, District Surendranagar 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 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
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R/CR.MA/13122/2026 ORDER DATED: 15/06/2026
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 once in a
month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00
p.m.;
(f) furnish the UIDAI Number, Contact Number/s, Passport Number
(if he is having the passport), E-mail address and 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 without prior permission of Trial Court;
(h) not to indulge in any illegal activity or any similar type of offence
failing which concerned Investigating Officer shall have liberty to
file an application for cancellation of bail against the present
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.)
Ajay
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: AJAY CHANDRAN MENON(HC00939), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 15/06/2026 15:39:21
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