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High Court of Gujarat

KAUSHALRAJ MUKESHKUMAR GADHAVIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail and ordered his release on bond subject to conditions.

Summary

The High Court of Gujarat considered a regular bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, by Kaushalraj Mukeshkumar Gadhavi, who was charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act. The applicant claimed innocence, stating his only involvement was being present in a car with another accused who assaulted the complainant, and he had no prior criminal record. The State opposed bail, citing the gravity of the offences. The Court examined established bail principles, including risk of witness tampering, likelihood of absconding, and the presumption of liberty, and referred to Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor). Concluding that the applicant’s role was minimal and that continued detention amounted to pre‑trial punishment, the Court granted regular bail with a personal bond and several conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail should be granted after the filing of a charge‑sheet for offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Gujarat Police Act.
  • Whether the applicant’s alleged participation warrants denial of bail on grounds of seriousness, risk of tampering, or likelihood of absconding.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailcharge-sheetBharatiya Nyaya Sanhitapersonal libertyArticle 21bail jurisprudenceGujarat

Judgment

 R/CR.MA/18510/2026(GJHC240595512026)                    ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 18510 of 2026
==========================================================
              KAUSHALRAJ MUKESHKUMAR GADHAVI
                              Versus
                      STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR JIGAR G GADHAVI(5613) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR ROHAN SHAH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                                  Date : 20/08/2026
                                        ORDER
[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-State.

[2.0] The present application is 6led under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) for regular bail in
connection with FIR being C.R. No.11209028260628 of 2026 registered with
Khedbrahma Police Station, District Sabarkantha for the o@ences
punishable under Sections 310(2), 115(2), 352, 351(3), 126(2) and 61(2) of
the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNS”) and section 135 of the
Gujarat Police 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 and now
nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. 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 requested to dismiss the present
application for regular bail looking to the nature and gravity of the o@ence.




                                        Page 1 of 4
 R/CR.MA/18510/2026(GJHC240595512026)                        ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026




[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
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 only role attributed to the present applicant is that applicant in
         company with the accused No.1 in Alto Car and followed and
         intercepted the car of the complainant and accused No.1 slapped
         the complainant four to 6ve times and also tried to assault the
         complainant with knife however, no overt act is attributed to the
         present applicant and even otherwise, investigation is over and
         charge-sheet is 6led;

(2)      Applicant is behind the bars since 17.07.2026;

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

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

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



                                        Page 2 of 4
 R/CR.MA/18510/2026(GJHC240595512026)                            ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026




[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 6t
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.11209028260628 of 2026 registered with Khedbrahma Police Station,
District Sabarkantha on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees
Twenty-6ve Thousand only) with ONE 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 territory of 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 between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00
            p.m.;




                                         Page 3 of 4
 R/CR.MA/18510/2026(GJHC240595512026)                                                ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026




     (f)       furnish the copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
               permanent and present address of his 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 he is not required in
connection with any other o@ence 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 20/08/2026 17:14:23




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