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High Court of Gujarat

RATHOD BHAGIRATHSINH JAKHUBHAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court granted anticipatory bail to the applicant with conditions, holding that the criteria for denial were not satisfied.

Summary

The applicant, Rathod Bhagirathsinh Jakhubha, filed an anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking protection against arrest in connection with FIR No. 11198014260163 for offences under Sections 85, 108 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. The State opposed the bail, citing the seriousness of the charges. The Court examined the standard bail factors—nature of the offence, the applicant’s clean antecedent, and the risk of flight or tampering with evidence—and found no compelling reason to deny bail. Relying on precedents such as Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra, Gurubaksh Singh Sibbia & Others, and Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi), the Court granted anticipatory bail with a personal bond of Rs.10,000 and several conditions, including cooperation with investigation and restriction on travel abroad. The order also clarified that the bail does not impede police investigation and that the trial court should not be influenced by these observations.

Issues considered

  • Whether anticipatory bail can be granted under Section 482 BNSS for offences under Sections 85, 108 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.
  • Whether the applicant poses a risk of fleeing, tampering with evidence, or influencing witnesses.
  • Whether the conditions imposed under anticipatory bail are appropriate and sufficient.

Legislation cited

Subjects

anticipatory bailSection 482Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha SanhitaBharatiya Nyay Sanhitacriminal procedurehigh courtbail conditions

Judgment

     R/CR.MA/14699/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




             IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 14699
                           of 2026

==========================================================
                      RATHOD BHAGIRATHSINH JAKHUBHA
                                  Versus
                            STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR. BHARGAV K. CHAUHAN(19374) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR RONAK RAVAL, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER

                                Date : 06/08/2026

                                 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.

11198014260163 of 2026, registered with Datha Police Station,
Bhavnagar for the offences punishable under Sections 85, 108,

54 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.



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

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


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      R/CR.MA/14699/2026                                           ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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

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



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      R/CR.MA/14699/2026                                         ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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)       considering the facts of the present case, the present is

the brother-in-law of the deceased and was staying separately

in different city and is also married;



b)       the applicant has no past antecedents;



c)       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
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



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     R/CR.MA/14699/2026                                     ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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;



        (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;




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      R/CR.MA/14699/2026                                         ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




         (d)     shall      remain    present        at    the       concerned      Police

         Station on 13.08.2026 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

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


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     R/CR.MA/14699/2026                                                              ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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)
PD
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: PARUL DUTTA(HCD0073), ENGLISH STENOGRAPHER GRADE TWO CLASS TWO, at High Court of Gujarat on 06/08/2026 18:10:30




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