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High Court of Gujarat

HIRALAL MULCHANDBHAI VANJARA MARWADIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The court held that regular bail should be granted to the applicant.

Summary

The applicant, Hiralal Mulchandbhai Vanjara Marwadi, filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR under the Gujarat Prohibition Act. The investigation was complete and a chargesheet had been filed, but the applicant claimed innocence and no prior similar offences. The State opposed bail, arguing the applicant's conduct warranted denial. The court examined standard bail factors—nature of the offence, risk of witness tampering, likelihood of absconding, and the applicant's character—and noted that a co‑accused had been granted bail, establishing parity. Relying on Supreme Court precedents and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, the court granted regular bail subject to a personal bond and several conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a chargesheet under Section 483 BNSS for an offence under the Gujarat Prohibition Act.
  • Whether the applicant's conduct, nature of the alleged offence, and risk of tampering or absconding preclude bail.
  • Whether the grant of bail to a co‑accused creates a parity principle obliging the court to grant bail to the applicant.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailSection 483 BNSSGujarat Prohibition Actpre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21parity principleco‑accused bail

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/17889/2026                                ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

    R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
                CHARGESHEET) NO. 17889 of 2026
==========================================================
               HIRALAL MULCHANDBHAI VANJARA MARWADI
                                Versus
                          STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR ANIQ A KADRI(11256) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR HARDIK MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                                Date : 06/08/2026

                                    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. 11195035260353 of 2026 registered
with Palanpur Taluka Police Station, Banaskantha, for the o.ence under
the provisions of The Gujarat Prohibition Act.

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the o.ence.
Investigation is over and chargesheet has been      led. The applicant has no
past antecedent of similar nature. He therefore submits that, considering
the nature of the o.ence, 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 submitted that considering the
conduct of the applicant, application does not deserve any consideration.

[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
accused in the alleged o.ence, the jurisdiction to grant bail has to be
exercised on the basis of the well settled principles having regard to the



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      R/CR.MA/17889/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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)       Investigation is over and chargesheet has been led;
(2)       Applicant is behind the bar since 29.05.2026;
(3)       There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(4)       There is no possibility to conclude the trial in near future.
(5)       O.ence is triable by JMFC Court.
(6)       Co-accused having similarly situated role 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



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    R/CR.MA/17889/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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.
11195035260353 of 2026 registered with Palanpur Taluka Police Station,
Banaskantha 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/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;
   (d)     not leave the State of Gujarat 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;
   (f)     furnish the Aadhaar card, email ID/present address of his
           residence to the Investigating OFcer and also to the Court at the
           time of execution of the bond and shall not change the residence/
           contact number 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 o.ence for the time being. If breach of any of the



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           R/CR.MA/17889/2026                                                       ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




     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 inGuenced 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)

     SUCHIT




Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: PATEL SUCHIT JAYESHBHAI(HC01083), Private Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 06/08/2026 14:56:22
                                                       Page 4 of 4


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