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High Court of Gujarat

FEZAN @ JANI RASULBHAI MORWADIYAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The court held that, on the facts, the applicant is entitled to regular bail and ordered his release on a personal bond with conditions.

Summary

The High Court of Gujarat considered an application for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, filed by Fezan @ Jani Rasulbhai Morwadiya, who was arrested for a house‑breaking and theft of muddamal, charges being framed under Sections 331(4), 305(A), 62 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The State opposed bail, citing the gravity of the offences, while the applicant argued innocence and that the stolen property had been recovered. The Court examined bail factors, noted that a co‑accused had been granted bail, and relied on precedents such as Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor. Finding a prima facie case and emphasizing the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with a local surety and imposed several conditions. The order also directed that any breach of conditions could lead to cancellation of bail.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted to an accused charged under Sections 331(4), 305(A), 62 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after the filing of a charge‑sheet.
  • Whether the recovery of the stolen muddamal and the nature of the offence preclude bail.
  • Whether parity with a co‑accused already on bail and relevant Supreme Court precedents justify granting bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailBharatiya Nyaya SanhitaBharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitahouse‑breakingtheftpre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21co‑accused paritybail jurisprudence

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/16761/2026                                ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 16761 of 2026
==========================================================
             FEZAN @ JANI RASULBHAI MORWADIYA
                               Versus
                       STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR MH SHEKHAWAT(7194) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR KRUTIK PARIKH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 17/08/2026
                                 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.11200010251941 of 2025 registered with
Valsad Town Police Station, District Valsad for the oDences punishable
under Sections 331(4), 305(A), 62 and 54 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 oDence and now
nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. He therefore submits
that, considering the nature of the oDence, 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 oDence.

[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the



                                  Page 1 of 4
      R/CR.MA/16761/2026                                   ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




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 case of prosecution is that on 28.12.2025, a house-breaking took
          place at the complainant’s house and muddamal worth Rs.1,41,438/-
          was stolen however, the said muddamal is recovered and even
          otherwise, investigation is over and charge-sheet is ;led;

(2)       Applicant is behind the bars since 17.01.2026;

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

(4)       Though the applicant is having past antecedents, he is presumed
          to be innocent till proven guilty and can be considered by
          imposing stringent condition;

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

(6)       Co-accused similarly situated is enlarged on regular bail and
          therefore, on the ground of parity also (Rameshbhai Batubhai


                                    Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/16761/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




           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 ;t
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.11200010251941 of 2025 registered with Valsad Town Police Station,
District Valsad on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees
Twenty-;ve Thousand only) with ONE LOCAL SURETY of the like amount to
the satisfaction of the trial Court and subject to the conditions that he 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 country without prior permission of the Trial
             Court concerned;



                                     Page 3 of 4
    R/CR.MA/16761/2026                                                           ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




     (e)       mark presence before the concerned Police Station once in a
               month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00
               p.m.;

     (f)       furnish the copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
               permanent and present address of his residence to the
               Investigating OPcer 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 applicant.

[9.0] The authorities will release the applicant only if he is 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 inQuenced 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 17/08/2026 17:13:53




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