AMITKUMAR S/O. RAJKUMAR JITRAWALversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The court held that, despite the seriousness of the charges, the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 BNSS, subject to strict conditions, because the investigation is complete, no material remains to be recovered, and bail is a rule, not an exception.
Summary
The High Court of Gujarat considered a regular bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for Amitkumar who was charged under IPC sections 406, 408, 409, 420, 120B and IT Act section 66(D) for a alleged fake online investment scheme. The applicant claimed innocence and offered to deposit Rs.10,00,000 as a guarantee, while the State opposed bail on the ground of the gravity of the offences. The court examined the completed investigation, the absence of any material to be recovered, the applicant’s clean antecedent, and the fact that co‑accused had been granted bail. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v Public Prosecutor) and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, the court found a prima facie case for bail. Consequently, the court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with one surety and imposed several conditions, including a Rs.10,00,000 deposit in three installments.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a charge‑sheet under Section 483 BNSS for offences punishable under IPC and the IT Act.
- Whether the seriousness of the alleged offences (criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and cyber fraud) precludes the grant of bail.
- Whether parity with co‑accused who were released on bail warrants the applicant's bail.
- Whether the conditions imposed, including a monetary deposit, are lawful and appropriate.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 483
- Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 120B, s. 406, s. 408, s. 409, s. 420
- Information Technology Acts. 66(D)
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/13523/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/07/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
CHARGESHEET) NO. 13523 of 2026
==========================================================
AMITKUMAR S/O. RAJKUMAR JITRAWAL
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR PRATIK B BAROT(3711) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR HK PATEL, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 27/07/2026
ORDER
[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-
State. Though duly served, none appears for respondent No.2.
[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.11201015220004 of 2022 registered with CID Crime
Rajkot Zone Police Station, Rajkot City, for the offence under
Sections 406, 408, 409, 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code and
Section 66(D) of the IT Act.
[3.0] The learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant
submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely
implicated in the offence. No recovery or discovery is required to
be made. He, therefore, submits that, considering the nature of the
offence, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail subject to
suitable conditions. To demonstrate his bona fides, the applicant
has filed an undertaking stating that he will deposit a sum of Rs.
10,00,000/- before the learned District and Sessions Court, Rajkot,
within a period of three months from the date of his actual release.
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R/CR.MA/13523/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/07/2026
[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 is very much involved in the present offence and
considering the gravity of offence, no case is made out to entertain
present bail application. 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 charge-sheet is filed;
(2) Applicant is behind the bar since 30/01/2026;
(3) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
applicant;
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R/CR.MA/13523/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/07/2026
(4) The applicant has no past antecedent.
(5) The allegations against the present applicant are that
he, in connivance with the other accused persons, entered
into a criminal conspiracy to establish a fake online company
under the name and style of "The Trade Lord". It is alleged
that the informant and approximately 460 other investors
were induced to invest their money on the false assurance of
earning a daily return of 1% on their investment. The
prosecution further alleges that a total sum of
Rs.1,01,51,981/- was collected from the investors. However,
after the company went offline on 12.11.2020, neither the
principal amount nor the promised returns were repaid,
thereby dishonestly cheating the investors and committing
criminal breach of trust.
(6) Co-accused having similarly situated role are enlarged on
regular bail and therefore, on the ground of parity also
(Rameshbhai Batubhai Dhabi Vs. State of Gujarat
reported in 2011 (3) GLR 1999), present application
deserves consideration.
(7) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will
take its own time.
(8) To demonstrate his bona fides, the applicant has filed
an undertaking stating that he will deposit a sum of
Rs.10,00,000/- before the learned District and Sessions
Court, Rajkot, within a period of three months from the
date of his actual release.
[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.
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R/CR.MA/13523/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/07/2026
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.11201015220004 of 2022 registered with CID Crime
Rajkot Zone Police Station, Rajkot 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 once in
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R/CR.MA/13523/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/07/2026
every month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m.
and 2.00 p.m.;
(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 Court shall issue warrant and cancel the bail of the
applicant.
(h) The applicant shall deposit an amount of
Rs.10,00,000/- in three equal installments before the
Sessions Court, Rajkot, within a period of three
months from the date of his actual release. It is
clarified that, in the event of failure to comply with
this condition, the bail granted by this Court shall
stand automatically cancelled. In such an
eventuality, the learned Sessions Judge shall be at
liberty to issue a warrant for the arrest of the
applicant and take him into custody in accordance
with law.
[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.
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R/CR.MA/13523/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/07/2026
[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)
ILA
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ILA PRAFULKUMAR PATEL(HC00194), Principal Pvt Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 27/07/2026 14:27:58
Page 6 of 6
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