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High Court of Gujarat

MOHAMMAD RAFIK LALMOHAMMAD BARAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

Anticipatory bail is granted to the applicant under Section 482 of the BNSS, subject to specified conditions.

Summary

The applicant, Mohammad Rafik Lalmohammad Bara, filed an anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking protection from arrest in connection with an FIR alleging offences under several IPC sections including cheating, criminal breach of trust, extortion, and forgery. The Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the bail, citing the seriousness of the charges. The Court examined the nature and gravity of the allegations, the applicant's willingness to cooperate, and relevant Supreme Court precedents on anticipatory bail. Relying on decisions in Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre, Gurubaksh Singh Sibbia, and Sushila Aggarwal, the Court found no compelling reason to deny bail. Consequently, the Court granted anticipatory bail subject to a personal bond of Rs.10,000 with a surety and a series of conditions aimed at ensuring the applicant's cooperation and preventing tampering with evidence.

Issues considered

  • Whether anticipatory bail should be granted under Section 482 of the BNSS given the nature and gravity of the alleged offences.
  • Whether the applicant poses a risk of fleeing, obstructing investigation, or influencing witnesses.
  • Whether the discretion exercised by the Court aligns with Supreme Court jurisprudence on anticipatory bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

anticipatory bailSection 482 BNSSIndian Penal Code offenceshigh court bail orderGujaratbusiness disputebail conditions

Judgment

     R/CR.MA/16353/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




             IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 16353
                           of 2026

==========================================================
                   MOHAMMAD RAFIK LALMOHAMMAD BARA
                                Versus
                          STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR ASHISH M DAGLI(2203) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR RATHIN P RAVAL(5013) for the Respondent(s) No. 1
MR NIRAJ SHARMA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER

                                Date : 17/08/2026

                                 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.

11993007260121 of 2026, registered with `B’ Division Police

Station, Gandhidham District: Kutch East-Gandhidham for the

offences punishable under Sections 406, 420, 506(2), 465, 467,

468, 471 and 114 of Indian Penal Code.



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

nature of allegations are such that custodial interrogation at

this stage is not necessary. It is further submitted that the



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      R/CR.MA/16353/2026                                           ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




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.


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

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



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      R/CR.MA/16353/2026                                         ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




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 dispute between the parties is with respect to the

business transaction;

b)       the learned advocate for the applicant has assured that

the     applicant          will   not    flee    from    justice      and     would        be

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.



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     R/CR.MA/16353/2026                                           ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




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

        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 24.08.2026 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



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         R/CR.MA/16353/2026                                                                  ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




             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,

             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)
  SRILATHA


Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: SRILATHA VENKATARAO UPADHYAYULA(HC00185), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 17/08/2026 15:50:33




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