AJAZ ALIAS TEDA RAESBHAI YUSUFBHAI SHAIKHversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The court held that the applicants are entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, subject to prescribed conditions.
Summary
The petitioners, Ajaz alias Teda and another, applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR alleging threat with a knife and theft of diesel. The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the offences and risk of evidence tampering. The court examined bail principles, noting the investigation was largely complete, the accused had been in custody since May 2026, and there was no material to be recovered from them. Citing Supreme Court decisions in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor, the court emphasized the presumption of innocence and the doctrine that bail is the rule, jail the exception. Concluding that the case warranted bail, the court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with a surety and imposed several conditions, including surrender of passport and regular police reporting.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 BNSS before the filing of a chargesheet for the offences alleged.
- Whether the nature of the alleged offences and the risk of tampering with evidence justify denial of bail.
- How the Supreme Court precedents on bail jurisprudence apply to the present facts.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 309(4), s. 324(4), s. 351(3), s. 483, s. 54
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/14964/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 14964 of 2026
==========================================================
AJAZ ALIAS TEDA RAESBHAI YUSUFBHAI SHAIKH & ANR.
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR JIGAR B OZA(11654) for the applicants(s) No. 1,2
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s) No. 1
MR HARDIK MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 06/07/2026
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.
11191065260479 of 2026 registered with Narol Police
Station, Ahmedabad, for the offences under Sections 309(4),
351(3), 324(4), and 54 of the BNS.
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicants
submits that the applicants are innocent and has been falsely
implicated in the offence. Nothing is required to be recovered or
discovered. He therefore submits that, considering the nature of
the offence, the applicants 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
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R/CR.MA/14964/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026
the present application for regular bail on the ground that the
applicants are very much involved in the present offence and
considering the gravity of offence, no case is made out to
entertain present bail application. If they arereleased on bail,
possibility cannot be ruled out that the applicants will flee from
justice and tamper with the evidence. 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) Substantial part of investigation is over;
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R/CR.MA/14964/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026
(2) applicants are behind the bar since 15.05.2026;
(3) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from
the applicants;
(4) The allegation against the present applicants are that
they threatened the complainant by showing him a knife
and stole 250 litres of diesel from the truck.
(5) Although the applicants have criminal antecedents,
they are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.
(6) 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 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 applicants 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 applicants on regular bail. Hence, the
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R/CR.MA/14964/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026
present application is allowed. The applicants are ordered to be
released on regular bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No.
11191065260479 of 2026 registered with Narol Police
Station, Ahmedabad, 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 a week till filing of the chargesheet and after filing of
the chargesheet, mark presence before the concerned
police station once in a month for a period of six
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 Court shall issue warrant and cancel the bail of the
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R/CR.MA/14964/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026
applicants.
[9.0] The authorities will release the applicants only if they are
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 applicants on bail.
[12.0] Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct
service is permitted.
(HASMUKH D. SUTHAR,J)
ALI
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ISTAYAK ALI(HC01093), PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 06/07/2026 14:40:37
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