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High Court of Gujarat

PREMCHAND RAMLAKHAN BHARATI (AS PER NAME IN BAIL ORDER)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court allowed the application and granted regular bail to the accused, subject to specified conditions.

Summary

The High Court of Gujarat considered a regular bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 by Premchand Ramlakh​an Bharati, who was charged under Sections 108, 115(2) and 85 of the same Act for the alleged suicide of his wife following marital discord. The applicant asserted innocence, no prior criminal record, and that the investigation was complete with a chargesheet already filed. The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the offense and the mental and physical harassment leading to the deceased’s death. Referring to established bail principles and Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the Court held that pre‑trial detention would amount to a de facto conviction and that bail is a rule, not an exception, especially given the applicant’s clean antecedents. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety, imposing several conditions such as surrender of passport, monthly police reporting, and non‑engagement in illegal activity.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a chargesheet for offences under Sections 108, 115(2) and 85 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
  • Whether the nature of the alleged offence (suicide of the deceased) warrants denial of bail.
  • Whether the applicant’s lack of antecedents and the completion of investigation justify the grant of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailchargesheetBharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitapersonal libertyArticle 21suicidemarital discordGujarat

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/18352/2026                                ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

    R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
                CHARGESHEET) NO. 18352 of 2026
==========================================================
 PREMCHAND RAMLAKHAN BHARATI (AS PER NAME IN BAIL ORDER)
                        Versus
                  STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR. DHAVAL G BAROT(6546) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
SANKET K PANDYA(9451) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS VRUNDA SHAH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 07/08/2026

                                  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. 11214033260195 of 2026 registered
with Mangrol Police Station, Surat Rural, for the o1ences under Sections
108, 115(2) and 85 of BNS.

[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. Due to
marital discord between the husband wife, the deceased has committed
suicide. 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 due to mental and physical harassment, the
deceased has ended her life. Considering the gravity of o1ence, no case is



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   R/CR.MA/18352/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




made out to entertain present bail application.

[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 30.03.2026;
      (3)     There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
              applicant;
      (4)     No past antecedent.
      (5)     Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take its
              own time.
      (6)     Considering the quantum of punishment, 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



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    R/CR.MA/18352/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




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.
11214033260195 of 2026 registered with Mangrol Police Station, Surat
Rural 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 OFcer 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/18352/2026                                                        ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




              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 inIuenced 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 07/08/2026 14:33:13


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