PRAHLADBHAI MANGAJI GHANCHI @ MODIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

     R/CR.MA/15983/2026                                         ORDER DATED: 28/07/2026




             IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 15983
                           of 2026

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                   PRAHLADBHAI MANGAJI GHANCHI @ MODI
                                 Versus
                           STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR ANKITKUMAR B PATEL(9939) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR YUVRAJ BRAHMBHATT, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER

                                 Date : 28/07/2026

                                  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.11191038260326 of 2026, registered with the Vatva Police

Station, District : Ahmedabad City for the offences punishable

under Sections 4(3) and 5(E) of the Gujarat Land Grabing

Prohibition        Act    and   Section    314       of   the      Bharatiya        Nyay

Sanhita (‘the BNS’ for short).



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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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.



3.2      The applicant has filed an additional affidavit stating

that the land in question does not belong to him and he is

not in possession of the said land; and that he is not

interested in the land in question; and that the peaceful
possession of the land in question is with the complainant.



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



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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

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)       the present dispute is with respect to the offence under

the provisions of the Gujarat Land Grabbing Prohibition Act;

b)       considering          the       additional         affidavit     filed     by         the

applicant, the complainant is in peaceful possession of the

land in question and he has no right, title, interest and

possession over the land in question;

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



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     R/CR.MA/15983/2026                                     ORDER DATED: 28/07/2026




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
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



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R/CR.MA/15983/2026                                          ORDER DATED: 28/07/2026




   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;



   (d)     shall      remain    present         at    the      concerned       Police

   Station on 04.08.2026 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,



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      R/CR.MA/15983/2026                                                                ORDER DATED: 28/07/2026




           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

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)
M.H. DAVE/43

Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: MAHESHKUMAR HASMUKHLAL DAVE(HC00193), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 28/07/2026 18:07:12




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