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High Court of Gujarat

AJINKIYA RAMESHBHAI WANKHADEversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The High Court held that regular bail should be granted to the applicant, subject to a personal bond and specified conditions.

Summary

The applicant sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR alleging offences under Section 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. The applicant claimed innocence, stating that only a commission of Rs.9,800 was received in his bank account and no overt act was attributable to him. The court examined bail factors such as the nature of the accusation, risk of witness tampering, possibility of absconding, and the applicant’s clean record. Citing Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the court emphasized the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, and that personal liberty is protected under Article 21. Concluding that the case warranted the exercise of discretion, the court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with several conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a charge‑sheet for offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
  • Whether the nature and gravity of the alleged cyber‑offences justify denial of bail.
  • Whether the applicant’s lack of prior antecedents and the absence of any material to be recovered support the grant of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailcharge‑sheetcyber crimeInformation Technology ActBharatiya Nyaya SanhitaBharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitapersonal libertyArticle 21Gujarat High Court

Judgment

 R/CR.MA/17205/2026(GJHC240541582026)                    ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 17205 of 2026
==========================================================
               AJINKIYA RAMESHBHAI WANKHADE
                            Versus
                      STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR VINIT J GAJJAR(20654) with MR MANDAR DESHPANDE for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR ROHAN SHAH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                                  Date : 20/08/2026
                                        ORDER
[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-State.

[2.0] The present application is 9led under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) for regular bail in
connection with FIR being C.R. No.11219008250010 of 2025 registered with
Ahwa Cyber Crime Police Station, District Dang for the oBences
punishable under Section 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for
short “BNS”) and sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology
Act.

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the oBence and now
nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. He therefore submits
that, considering the nature of the oBence, 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 oBence.




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 R/CR.MA/17205/2026(GJHC240541582026)                     ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026




[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
accused in the alleged oBence, 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 applicant is not named in the FIR however, during the
         investigation it has been found that the applicant has received an
         amount of Rs.9800/- in his account held with IDBI Bank and in the
         said account, diBerent transactions of total Rs.1,97,86,832/- have
         been made only in one day however, except receiving commission of
         Rs.9800/- in the said account, no overt act is attributed to the
         present applicant and even otherwise, investigation is over and
         charge-sheet is 9led;

(2)      There are 31 complaints received in connection with the bank
         account of the present applicant however, the same will take its
         own course;

(3)      None of the oBence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
         death penalty and is triable by the Court of Magistrate;




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 R/CR.MA/17205/2026(GJHC240541582026)                            ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026




(4)         Applicant is behind the bars since 19.01.2026;

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

(6)         The applicant is not having any past antecedent ;

(7)         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
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 9t
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.11219008250010 of 2025 registered with Ahwa Cyber Crime Police
Station, District Dang on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees
Twenty-9ve 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


                                         Page 3 of 4
 R/CR.MA/17205/2026(GJHC240541582026)                                                ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026




                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;

     (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 OMcer 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 oBence 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 inNuenced 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 20/08/2026 17:18:26



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