PRATHAM VISHWASBHAI DABHOLKARversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The Court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS, subject to strict conditions, despite the seriousness of the offences.
Summary
The petitioner, Pratham Vishwasbhai Dabholkar, applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 after a chargesheet was filed for multiple offences including assault and weapon use. The State opposed bail, citing the gravity of the alleged knife and axe attacks causing serious injuries. The Court examined bail principles, the completed investigation, the applicant’s lack of prior record, and the victim’s recovery, and referred to Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor). It concluded that pre‑trial detention would amount to a de facto conviction and that personal liberty under Article 21 must be protected. Accordingly, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with a surety and imposed several conditions, directing the trial court to enforce them.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 BNSS after a chargesheet for serious offences.
- Whether the applicant’s clean antecedent and the completion of investigation justify bail despite the nature of the alleged crimes.
- Whether imposing conditions is sufficient to safeguard the trial process and public interest.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 109(1), s. 115(2), s. 117(4), s. 118(2), s. 189(4), s. 190, s. 191(3), s. 3(5), s. 483
- Gujarat Police Acts. 135(1)
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/17924/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
CHARGESHEET) NO. 17924 of 2026
==========================================================
PRATHAM VISHWASBHAI DABHOLKAR
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR ARJUNSINGH B CHAUHAN(11510) 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. 11210068260167 of 2026 registered
with Vesu Police Station, Surat City, for the o1ences under Sections
109(1), 117(4), 118(2), 118(2), 115(2), 189(4), 190, 191(3) and 3(5) of the BNS
and Section 135 (1) of the GP Act.
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the o1ence.
Investigation is over and chargesheet has been "led. Nothing is required to
be recovered or discovered. The applicant has no past antecedent. He
therefore submits that, considering the nature of the o1ence, 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 on the ground that the applicant and other accused have
in:icted knife and axe blows on the victims and caused serious injuries and
considering the gravity of o1ence, no case is made out to entertain present
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R/CR.MA/17924/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026
bail application. Therefore, present application does not deserve
consideration.
[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
accused in the alleged o1ence, 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) Investigation is over and chargesheet has been "led;
(2) Applicant is behind the bar since 28.04.2026;
(3) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
applicant;
(4) No past antecedent;
(5) Injured is out of danger and discharged from the hospital;
(6) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take
its own 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
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R/CR.MA/17924/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026
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.
11210068260167 of 2026 registered with Vesu Police Station, Surat City,
on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-"ve Thousand
only) with one 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 OGcer and also to the Court at the
time of execution of the bond and shall not change the
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R/CR.MA/17924/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026
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 o1ence 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 in:uenced 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 14:57:13
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