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High Court of Gujarat

DIPAKKUMAR @ DIPU JAYMELSINH BHANURAM (LAMBA)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that regular bail should be granted to the applicant.

Summary

Dipakkumar Bhanuram (Lamba) was charged under the Gujarat Prohibition Act for contraband liquor found in a vehicle he was travelling in with the driver. A chargesheet had been filed and he had been in custody since 15‑April‑2026. He applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, claiming innocence and no prior record. The State opposed, alleging his participation in the offence. The Court examined bail principles, cited the Supreme Court decisions in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor, and noted that continued pre‑trial detention would amount to a de facto conviction. Finding no serious risk of tampering, flight, or repeat offence, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with several conditions.

Issues considered

  • The applicability of Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for granting regular bail after a chargesheet in a Gujarat Prohibition Act case.
  • Whether the applicant’s alleged involvement and the nature of the offence justify denial of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailchargesheetGujarat Prohibition Actcontraband liquorpersonal libertySection 483 BNSSpre‑trial detentionSupreme Court precedent

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/15064/2026                                ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

    R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
                CHARGESHEET) NO. 15064 of 2026
==========================================================
        DIPAKKUMAR @ DIPU JAYMELSINH BHANURAM (LAMBA)
                            Versus
                      STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
A R KADRI(7330) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR. AMMAR SAIYED(17184) for the Applicant(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. 11821008260490 of 2026 registered
with Dahod Rural Police Station, Dahod, for the offence under the
provisions of The Gujarat 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.
Chargesheet has been filed. He has no past antecedent. 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 submitted that, the applicant was
accompanying with driver of the vehicle from which contraband liquor was
found. Considering the conduct of the applicant, application does not
deserve any consideration.

[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the



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      R/CR.MA/15064/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




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 chargesheet is filed;
(2)       Applicant is behind the bar since 15.04.2026;
(3)       There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(4)       There is no possibility to conclude the trial in near future.
(5)       Offence is triable by JMFC Court.
(6)        The applicant was accompanying with the driver of the vehicle in
         which contraband liquor was found. He has no past antecedent.

[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



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    R/CR.MA/15064/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




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.
11821008260490 of 2026 registered with Dahod Rural Police Station,
Dahod, on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-five
Thousand only) with one local 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
           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 applicant.


[9.0] The authorities will release the applicant only if he is not required in



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    R/CR.MA/15064/2026                                                      ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




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)

SUCHIT




    Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
    Digitally signed by: PATEL SUCHIT JAYESHBHAI(HC01083), Private Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 06/07/2026 14:38:26

                                               Page 4 of 4


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