RAMKANYA RAMESHBHAI KHATIKversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The court allowed the regular bail application, ordering the release of the applicant on a personal bond with conditions.
Summary
The High Court of Gujarat considered an application for regular bail filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 by Ramkanya Rameshbhai Khatik, who was accused of forging her son’s school leaving certificate to claim minority under the Juvenile Justice Act. The offences, punishable under Sections 235, 337, 338, 340 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, are non‑capital and triable by a magistrate. The court examined factors such as the nature of the accusation, lack of prior antecedents, no material to be recovered, and parity with a co‑accused already on bail. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI; Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor) and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, it held that the applicant was prima facie eligible for bail. Consequently, the court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with a surety and imposed standard conditions, directing that any breach could lead to cancellation.
Issues considered
- What is the appropriate discretion of the court in granting regular bail before the filing of a chargesheet for offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023?
- Do the nature of the alleged forgery, the absence of prior criminal record, and parity with a co‑accused justify the grant of bail?
- Whether the risk of tampering with evidence or absconding warrants denial of bail in this case?
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 483
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023s. 235, s. 337, s. 338, s. 340, s. 61(2)
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/16682/2026 ORDER DATED: 23/07/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 16682 of 2026
==========================================================
RAMKANYA RAMESHBHAI KHATIK
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR NITISH M NAIR(13998) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR ROHAN RAVAL, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 23/07/2026
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.11191024260651 of 2026 registered with
Ramol Police Station, Ahmedabad City for the offences punishable under
Sections 235, 337, 338, 340 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
(for short “BNS”).
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the offence and now
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.
[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 looking to the nature and gravity of the offence.
[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
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R/CR.MA/16682/2026 ORDER DATED: 23/07/2026
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) The allegation is that applicant has forged the school leaving
certificate of her son on 29.11.2025 and mentioned wrong date of
the applicant only with a view to take the benefit under the Juvenile
Justice Act so as to show her son to be minor at the relevant point
of time and even otherwise, substantial part of investigation is over;
(2) None of the offence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
death penalty and is triable by the Court of Magistrate;
(3) Applicant is a lady accused and is behind the bars since 09.06.2026;
(4) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(5) The applicant is not having any past antecedent ;
(6) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some
time;
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R/CR.MA/16682/2026 ORDER DATED: 23/07/2026
(7) Co-accused similarly situated is enlarged on regular bail and
therefore, on the ground of parity also (Rameshbhai Batubhai
Dhabi Vs. State of Gujarat reported in 2011 (3) GLR 1999),
present application deserves consideration.
[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.
[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.11191024260651 of 2026 registered with Ramol Police Station,
Ahmedabad 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;
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R/CR.MA/16682/2026 ORDER DATED: 23/07/2026
(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 filing of the chargesheet and after filing 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 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 and
contact number/SIM card without prior permission of Trial
Court;
(h) 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 she 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.)
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 23/07/2026 14:51:20
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