VENKATESH LAXMAN GUNJEversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

    R/CR.MA/18372/2026                                ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 18372 of 2026
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               VENKATESH LAXMAN GUNJE & ORS.
                              Versus
                       STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR RAFIK LOKHANDWALA(5590) for the applicants(s) No. 1,2,3
MR ADITYA JADEJA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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  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.11207025260429 of 2026 registered with
Godhra ‘A’ Division Police Station, District Panchmahal for the oDences
punishable under Sections 303(2), 324(4), 62 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNS”).

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicants submits that
applicants is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the oDence and
now nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. He therefore
submits that, considering the nature of the oDence, the applicants 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 oDence.

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


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      R/CR.MA/18372/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




accused in the alleged oDence, 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 applicant alongwith co-accused tried to dig the
          land with intention to commit the oDence of heist of cable laid by
          the BSNL however, accused persons came to be apprehended prior
          to that and actual oDence could not be committed and even
          otherwise, substantial part of investigation is over;

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

(3)       Applicant Nos.1 to 2 are behind the bars since 23.06.2026 and
          applicant No.3 is arrested on 24.06.2026;

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

(5)       The applicants are not having any past antecedent;

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


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    R/CR.MA/18372/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




[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 applicants 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 applicants on regular bail.
Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicants are ordered to be
released     on    regular   bail   in   connection    with    FIR    being         C.R.
No.11207025260429 of 2026 registered with Godhra ‘A’ Division Police
Station, District Panchmahal on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/-
(Rupees Twenty-:ve Thousand only) each with ONE LOCAL 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 country without prior permission of the Trial
            Court concerned;

     (e)    mark presence before the concerned Police Station once in a
            week till Dling of the chargesheet and after Dling of the


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    R/CR.MA/18372/2026                                                          ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




              chargesheet, mark presence before the concerned police
              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 their residence to the
              Investigating ONcer 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 applicants.

[9.0] The authorities will release the applicants only if they are not
required in connection with any other oDence 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 inOuenced by the
observations of preliminary nature qua the evidence at this stage made by
this Court while enlarging the applicants 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 07/08/2026 14:33:12




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