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High Court of Gujarat

MAHIPALSINH LAXMANSINH CHUDASAMAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The court held that, on the facts, regular bail should be granted as a matter of discretion because the allegations are prima facie and continued pre‑trial detention would amount to a conviction.

Summary

The applicants Mahipalsinh Laxmansinh Chudasama and others were arrested in connection with FIR C.R. No.11192018260192 alleging offences under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. They filed an application for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, claiming innocence and no further recovery needed. The State opposed bail, citing the gravity of the offences. The Court considered established bail principles, the nature of the allegations, the lack of prior antecedents, and the risk of pre‑trial detention amounting to conviction. Relying on Supreme Court precedents, the Court held that bail is a rule and jail an exception, and granted regular bail with conditions. The applicants were released on personal bonds of Rs.25,000 each with one surety, subject to several compliance conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 to accused persons facing serious offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
  • Whether the nature of the allegations and the risk of tampering with evidence or absconding justify denial of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailpre‑trial detentionSection 483 BNSSBharatiya Nyaya Sanhitapersonal libertyArticle 21Gujarat High Court

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/16097/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 12/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 16097 of 2026
==========================================================
          MAHIPALSINH LAXMANSINH CHUDASAMA & ORS.
                            Versus
                      STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR CB UPADHYAY with MR DARSHIT H RAVAL(11887) for the applicants(s) No.
1,2,3,4,5
MR RAHUL R DHOLAKIA(6765) for the Respondent(s) No. 1
MS SHRUTI PATHAK, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 12/08/2026
                                  ORDER

[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-State.

[2.0] The present application is =led under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) for regular bail in
connection with FIR being C.R. No.11192018260192 of 2026 registered with
Dhandhuka Police Station, Ahmedabad Rural for the oDences punishable
under Sections 109(1), 118(2), 115(2), 351(3), 352, 54, 61, 189(2), 189(4), 190,
191(2) and 191(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNS”).

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicants submits that
applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the oDence and
now nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. He therefore
submits that, considering the nature of the oDence, the applicants may be
enlarged on regular bail by imposing suitable conditions.

[4.0] Learned APP appearing on behalf of the respondent-State as well as
learned advocate appearing for the original complainant have opposed the
present application and requested to dismiss the present application for
regular bail looking to the nature and gravity of the oDence.


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      R/CR.MA/16097/2026                               ORDER DATED: 12/08/2026




[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
accused in the alleged oDence, 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)       The allegation against the applicants is that they inLicted stick
          blows to the deceased and except this, no overt act is attributed to
          the present applicants and even otherwise, substantial part of
          investigation is over;

(2)       Applicants are behind the bars since 20.06.2026;

(3)       There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicants;

(4)       The applicants are not having any past antecedent;

(5)       Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some
          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


                                    Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/16097/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 12/08/2026




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 =t
case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the applicants on regular bail.
Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicants are ordered to be
released       on   regular   bail   in   connection    with   FIR    being         C.R.
No.11192018260192 of 2026 registered with Dhandhuka Police Station,
Ahmedabad Rural on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees
Twenty-=ve Thousand only) each with ONE SURETY of the like amount to
the satisfaction of the trial Court and subject to the conditions that they
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 territory of State of Gujarat without prior
               permission of the Trial Court concerned;

     (e)       mark presence before the concerned Police Station once in a
               week till @ling of the chargesheet and after @ling of the
               chargesheet, mark presence before the concerned police
               station once in a month for a period of six months;

     (f)       furnish the copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
               permanent and present address of their residence to the


                                      Page 3 of 4
    R/CR.MA/16097/2026                                                           ORDER DATED: 12/08/2026




               Investigating OOcer and also to the Court at the time of
               execution of the bond and shall not change the residence and
               contact number/SIM card 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 applicants.

     (h)       not to enter Dhandhuka Taluka till @ling of the charge-sheet
               except for marking presence before the concerned police
               station and/or for attending the court proceedings.


[9.0] The authorities will release the applicants only if they are not
required in connection with any other oDence 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 inLuenced 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.)
Ajay
  Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
  Digitally signed by: AJAY CHANDRAN MENON(HC00939), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 12/08/2026 14:30:37




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