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High Court of Gujarat

PANKAJKUMAR VANMALIDAS KAMLIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court allowed the anticipatory bail application, granting bail with conditions.

Summary

The applicant, Pankajkumar Vanmalidas Kamli, filed an anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking protection from arrest in connection with an FIR alleging offences under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Section 3 of the Gujarat Protection of Interest of Depositors Act. The applicant argued that custodial interrogation was unnecessary, he would cooperate with the investigation, and he had no prior criminal record. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences. The Court examined the nature and gravity of the accusations, the applicant's cooperation, lack of antecedents, and relevant Supreme Court precedents, and concluded that bail could be granted with strict conditions. Accordingly, the Court ordered anticipatory bail on a personal bond of Rs.10,000 with one surety of equal amount, imposing conditions such as cooperation with investigation, non‑interference with witnesses, residence restrictions, and travel limitations.

Issues considered

  • Whether anticipatory bail should be granted under Section 482 of the BNSS given the nature and gravity of the offences alleged.
  • Whether the applicant poses a risk of fleeing, tampering with evidence, or influencing witnesses.
  • Whether imposing conditions under Section 483(2) of the BNSS is appropriate in this case.

Legislation cited

Subjects

anticipatory bailSection 482BNSSBharatiya Nyay SanhitaGujarat Protection of Interest of Depositors Actbail conditionscriminal procedure

Judgment

     R/CR.MA/14072/2026                                     ORDER DATED: 10/07/2026




`
             IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 14072
                           of 2026

==========================================================
                          PANKAJKUMAR VANMALIDAS KAMLI
                                      Versus
                                STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR YASH V GUPTA(11814) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
VISHAL K ANANDJIWALA(7798) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

    CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER

                                 Date : 10/07/2026

                                  ORAL ORDER


1.      By way of this application under Section 482 of the

Bharatiya         Nagarik      Suraksha       Sanhita,      2023       ( for   short,
“BNSS”), the applicant has prayed for anticipatory bail in the
event of arrest in connection with the FIR being C.R. No.

11200048251913 of 2025, registered with Vapi Town Police

Station, District: Valsad for the offences punishable under

Sections 316(2), 316(5), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2),

61(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Section 3 of the

Gujarat Protection of Interest of Depositors Act.



2.      Rule.         Learned    Additional        Public   Prosecutor         waives

service of notice of rule for respondent – State of Gujarat.



3.      Learned advocate for the applicant submits that the



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      R/CR.MA/14072/2026                                           ORDER DATED: 10/07/2026




nature of allegations are such that custodial interrogation at

this stage is not necessary. It is further submitted that the

applicant will keep himself available during the course of

investigation and trial also and will not flee from justice.



3.1      The learned advocate for the applicant further states

that the applicant shall abide by all the conditions that may

be imposed while granting anticipatory bail to the applicant.

Accordingly, it is urged that this application may be allowed

and to grant the anticipatory bail to the applicant.



4.       As against this, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor

appearing on behalf of the respondent – State has opposed

grant of anticipatory bail looking to the nature and gravity of

the offence and requested not to entertain this application.


5.       Having heard the learned advocates appearing for the

parties and perusing the papers available on record, it is

incumbent           upon         the   Court         to    exercise        its   discretion

judiciously, cautiously and strictly in compliance with the

basic principles laid down in plethora of decisions of the

Apex Court on the point. It is well settled that, among other

circumstances,             the    factors      to     be   borne      in     mind      while

considering an application for bail are (i) the nature and

gravity of the accusation; (ii) the antecedents of the applicant



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      R/CR.MA/14072/2026                                         ORDER DATED: 10/07/2026




including the fact as to whether he has previously undergone

imprisonment on conviction by a Court in respect of any

cognizable offence; (iii) the possibility of the applicant to flee

from justice; and (iv) where the accusation has been made

with the object of injuring or humiliating the applicant by

having him so arrested. Though at the stage of granting bail

an elaborate examination of evidence and detailed reasons

touching the merits of the case, which may prejudice the

case of accused, should be avoided.                           However, prima facie,

following aspects have been taken into consideration:



a)       that the applicant has cooperated with the investigation;

b) that from the documents, it can be clearly established that

the present complainant herself is a Director since the year

2021 and the said fact is not disclosed by the complainant in
the said FIR;



c)       the applicant has no past antecedents;



d)       the learned advocate for the applicant has assured that

the     applicant          will   not    flee    from    justice      and     would        be

available during investigation as well as the trial.



6.       Considering the aforesaid aspects and the law laid down

by     the     Hon’ble        Apex      Court     in    the    case    of    Siddharam



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     R/CR.MA/14072/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 10/07/2026




Satlingappa Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra and Others,
reported in (2011) 1 SCC 6941, wherein the Hon’ble Apex
Court reiterated the law laid down by the Constitution Bench

in   the      case    of   Shri Gurubaksh Singh Sibbia & Others,
reported in (1980) 2 SCC 665 and also the decision in the
case of Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi), reported in

(2020) 5 SCC 1, the Court is inclined to allow the present
application.



7.      In the result, this application is allowed by directing

that in the event of arrest/ appearance of the applicant in

connection with the above-referred FIR, the applicant shall be

released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs.10,000/-

(Rupees Ten Thousand) with one surety of like amount on

the following conditions that applicant:


        (a)     shall cooperate with the investigation and make

        available for interrogation whenever required;



        (b)     shall      not   directly      or   indirectly     make        any

        inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted

        with the fact of the case so as to dissuade him from

        disclosing such facts to the court or to any police

        officer;




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      R/CR.MA/14072/2026                                          ORDER DATED: 10/07/2026




         (c)     shall      not      obstruct         or     hamper         the      police

         investigation and not to play mischief with the evidence

         collected or yet to be collected by the police;



         (d)     shall      remain    present         at    the      concerned       Police

         Station on 17.07.2026 between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.;



         (e)     shall at the time of execution of bond, furnish the

         address       to    the   investigating           officer    and     the     court

         concerned and shall not change residence till the final

         disposal of the case till further orders;



         (f)     shall not leave India without the permission of the

         Court and if having passport shall deposit the same

         before the trial Court within a week;


         (g)     It is open to the police or the investigating agency

         to move the learned trial Court for a direction under

         Section 483(2) of the BNSS to arrest the accused, in

         the event of violation of any term, such as absconding,

         non-cooperating             during            investigation,             evasion,

         intimidation or inducement to witnesses with a view to

         influence outcome of the investigation or trial, etc.



7.1      At the trial, the Trial Court shall not be influenced by



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           R/CR.MA/14072/2026                                                                  ORDER DATED: 10/07/2026




    the        prima          facie         observations                made           by       this        Court          while

    considering the bail application.



    8.         It is made clear that this order of anticipatory bail does

    not in any manner limit or restrict the rights or duties of

    the police or investigative agency to investigate into the

    charges against the applicant who is granted pre-arrest bail.



    9.         Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent.                                                             Direct

    service is permitted.

                                                                                           (SANJEEV J.THAKER,J)
    SRILATHA


Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: SRILATHA VENKATARAO UPADHYAYULA(HC00185), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 10/07/2026 18:19:32




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