SANGITABEN W/O. GOVINDBHAI KHODABHAI DEVIPUJAKversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

    R/CR.MA/18073/2026                                ORDER DATED: 05/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 18073 of 2026
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      SANGITABEN W/O. GOVINDBHAI KHODABHAI DEVIPUJAK
                             Versus
                      STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR MOHDDANISH M BAREJIA(10612) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS VRUNDA SHAH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 05/08/2026
                                 ORDER

[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-State.

[2.0] The present application is 7led under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) for regular bail in
connection with FIR being C.R. No.11210065260712 of 2026 registered with
Uttran Police Station, Surat City for the oAences punishable under
Sections 123, 303(2), 317(2) 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 oAence and now
nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. He therefore submits
that, considering the nature of the oAence, 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 oAence.

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


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      R/CR.MA/18073/2026                                ORDER DATED: 05/08/2026




accused in the alleged oAence, 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 alongwith co-accused committed
          theft of golden bangles of the complainant and thereafter sold the
          same and received share of Rs.5000/- however, there is no actual
          participation in the alleged heist of ornament and even otherwise,
          substantial part of investigation is over;

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

(3)       Applicant is a lady accused behind the bars since 20.06.2026;

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

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

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



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    R/CR.MA/18073/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 05/08/2026




[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 7t
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.11210065260712 of 2026 registered with Uttran Police Station, Surat
City on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-7ve
Thousand only) with ONE SURETY of the like amount to the satisfaction of
the trial Court and subject to the conditions that 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 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 Bling of the chargesheet and after Bling of the
            chargesheet, mark presence before the concerned police
            station once in a month for a period of six months;



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      R/CR.MA/18073/2026                                                           ORDER DATED: 05/08/2026




       (f)       furnish the copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
                 permanent and present address of her residence to the
                 Investigating OKcer 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 she is not required in
connection with any other oAence 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 inMuenced 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 05/08/2026 14:21:23




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