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High Court of Gujarat

ANILKUMAR MUKESHBHAI JASHWANIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court allowed the regular bail application, granting bail with a personal bond and conditions.

Summary

The petitioner, Anilkumar Mukeshbhai Jashwani, was arrested on 24 April 2026 for allegedly transporting prohibited liquor, leading to an FIR under the Prohibition Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita after the charge‑sheet was filed. The State opposed the bail, citing the seriousness of the offenses, while the petitioner argued innocence and the lack of any need for further recovery. The Court examined factors such as the nature of the accusation, the non‑capital nature of the offences, the applicant’s custody duration, and the fact that co‑accused had been granted bail. Relying on precedents like Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor, the Court emphasized the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception. It held that the applicant was entitled to regular bail, subject to a personal bond and stringent conditions. Consequently, the bail was granted with specific conditions regarding residence, passport surrender, and regular police reporting.

Issues considered

  • What is the appropriate exercise of discretion under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for granting regular bail in offences under the Prohibition Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
  • Whether the nature and gravity of the alleged offences, the possibility of witness tampering, and the applicant’s prior antecedents preclude the grant of regular bail?

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailSection 483 BNSSProhibition ActBharatiya Nyaya Sanhitapre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21bail jurisprudenceGujarat

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/18729/2026                                ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
 R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR SUCCESSIVE REGULAR BAIL -
            AFTER CHARGESHEET) NO. 18729 of 2026
==========================================================
               ANILKUMAR MUKESHBHAI JASHWANI
                               Versus
                       STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR MAKBUL I MANSURI(2694) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR KRUTIK PARIKH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 17/08/2026
                                 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.11207076260254 of 2026 registered with
Vejalpur Police Station, District Panchmahals for the o@ences under
Sections 65(a), 65(e), 116-B, 81, 83 and 98(2) of the Prohibition Act and
sections 111(2)(b), 111(3) and 111(4) 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 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.




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      R/CR.MA/18729/2026                                   ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




[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 allegation against the applicant is that he was transporting
          prohibited liquor in Eeco Car which is already recovered and the
          applicant Ged from the spot however, now investigation is over and
          charge-sheet is 7led;

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

(3)       Applicant is behind the bars since 24.04.2026;

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

(5)       Though the applicant is having two past antecedents, he is
          presumed to be innocent till proven guilty and can be considered
          by imposing stringent condition;

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


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      R/CR.MA/18729/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




             time;

(7)          Co-accused similarly situated are enlarged on regular bail and
             therefore, on the ground of parity also (Rameshbhai Batubhai
             Dhabi Vs. State of Gujarat reported in 2011 (3) GLR 1999), present
             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
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.11207076260254 of 2026 registered with Vejalpur Police Station,
District Panchmahals 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 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;



                                       Page 3 of 4
       R/CR.MA/18729/2026                                                          ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




        (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.;

       (f)       furnish the copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
                 permanent and present address of his residence to the
                 Investigating OLcer 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.

       (h)       not to enter District Panchmahals for a period of SIX
                 MONTHS except for marking presence before the concerned
                 police station and/or for attending the court proceedings.

[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 inGuenced 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 17/08/2026 15:07:47



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