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High Court of Gujarat

MITALBEN NIKUNJBHAI TRIVEDIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The court held that, despite the gravity of the offences, the applicant is entitled to regular bail after the charge‑sheet because the investigation is complete, there is no risk of tampering or flight, and bail is a rule, not an exception.

Summary

The applicant, Mitalben Nikunjbai Trivedi, sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for offences under IPC Sections 420 and 120B after a charge‑sheet was filed. The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the crime and risk of flight. The Court examined the standard bail factors, noted that the investigation was complete, no further recovery was required, and the applicant had been in custody since April 2026. Citing Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the Court emphasized that bail is the rule and pre‑trial detention is the exception. Consequently, 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 monthly police reporting.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a charge‑sheet under Section 483 BNSS for offences under IPC 420 and 120B.
  • Whether the applicant's alleged involvement and the seriousness of the offences justify denial of bail.
  • Whether the risk of absconding or tampering with evidence warrants continued detention.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailcharge‑sheetIPC 420IPC 120BSection 483 BNSSpersonal libertyArticle 21pre‑trial detentionGujarat

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/15225/2026                                     ORDER DATED: 09/07/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

    R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
                CHARGESHEET) NO. 15225 of 2026

==========================================================
                        MITALBEN NIKUNJBHAI TRIVEDI
                                   Versus
                             STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
VASIMRAJA A KURESHI(8609) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR ADITYA JADEJA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                              Date : 09/07/2026

                                  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.11208003250717               of          2025      registered           with
Gandhigram University Police Station, Rajkot City, for the
offences under Sections 420, 120B of the IPC.


[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant
submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely
implicated in the offence. Investigation is over and chargesheet has
been filed. Nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. He
therefore submits that, considering the nature of the offence, the
applicant may be enlarged on regular bail by imposing suitable
conditions.




                                  Page 1 of 5
   R/CR.MA/15225/2026                               ORDER DATED: 09/07/2026




[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.        If the applicant is released on bail,
possibility cannot be ruled out that the applicant will flee from
justice.    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. Before the
complainant, the accused persons have identified themselves as
authorized agents of Marvadi Financial Services Limited and given
him temptation of high return subject to investment in the share



                                  Page 2 of 5
   R/CR.MA/15225/2026                              ORDER DATED: 09/07/2026




market and the complainant has invested Rs.12,60,000/- out of
which only Rs.49,000/- returned and Rs.12,11,000/- siphoned by the
accused persons. In this regard, complaint came to be filed. If we
peruse the record, whatever the allegations levelled with regard to
receiving the amount are against accused no.1, husband of the
applicant and accused no.3.             Following aspects have been
considered:


      (1)     Investigation is over and charge-sheet is filed;
      (2)     Applicant is behind the bar since 07/04/2026;
      (3)     There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
              applicant;
      (4)     Though the applicant is having past antecedent, she is
      presumed to be innocent till proven guilty;.
      (5)     Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will
      take its own time;
      (6)     Prosecution has failed to point out the circumstances to
      continue or prolong her detention.


[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.



                                 Page 3 of 5
   R/CR.MA/15225/2026                                       ORDER DATED: 09/07/2026




[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.11208003250717                of          2025       registered           with
Gandhigram          University     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 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
          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
          her 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



                                   Page 4 of 5
      R/CR.MA/15225/2026                                                          ORDER DATED: 09/07/2026




               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 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)
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 09/07/2026 14:24:03




                                                    Page 5 of 5


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