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High Court of Gujarat

ROHIT @ BALO MANJIBHAI VAGHELAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that, on the facts, regular bail should be granted as the offences are bailable, the investigation is substantially complete, and no risk of tampering or absconding is evident.

Summary

The applicant, Rohit @ Bali Manjibhai Vaghela, filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking release pending trial for alleged theft of aluminum plates and electrical wires under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The State opposed the bail, emphasizing the gravity of the offences, while the applicant contended innocence and lack of any material to be recovered. The Court examined factors such as the nature of the accusation, severity of punishment, risk of witness tampering, and the applicant's antecedents, noting that the offences are bailable and not punishable by life imprisonment or death. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor) and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, the Court held that pre‑trial detention would amount to a de facto conviction. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with a surety, subject to detailed conditions, and directed the trial court to supervise compliance.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 BNSS, 2023 before the filing of a chargesheet for the offences alleged.
  • Whether the nature and severity of the offences, risk of witness tampering, and the applicant's antecedents justify denial of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailpre‑trial detentionBNSS 2023BNS 2023Article 21personal libertyTheftGujarat

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/17455/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 29/07/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 17455 of 2026
==========================================================
               ROHIT @ BALI MANJIBHAI VAGHELA
                               Versus
                        STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR KISHAN K NAYI(13080) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR JAY MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 29/07/2026
                                  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.11208003260102 of 2026 registered with
Gandhigram-2 (University) Police Station, Rajkot City for the offence
punishable under Sections 305(a), 331(4), 317(2), 61(2)(b) and 112(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/17455/2026                                   ORDER DATED: 29/07/2026




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 the applicant has committed the theft of 37
          aluminum plates and 2 electrical wires however, stolen muddamal is
          already recovered 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 behind the bars since 03.07.2026;

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

(5)       Though the applicant is having past antecedent, he is presumed
          to be innocent till proven guilty;

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



                                    Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/17455/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 29/07/2026




[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.11208003260102 of 2026 registered with Gandhigram-2 (University)
Police Station, Rajkot 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 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 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


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     R/CR.MA/17455/2026                                                           ORDER DATED: 29/07/2026




                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 his 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;

      (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 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 29/07/2026 14:50:43




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