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High Court of Gujarat

DHRUV @ KANAIYO SUNILGIRI GOSWAMIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court granted regular bail to the applicant.

Summary

The applicant, Dhruv @ Kanaiyo Sunilgiri Goswami, sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for alleged offences under Sections 25(1)(A) and 25(7)(i) of the Arms Act. The State opposed bail, arguing the applicant’s involvement and the gravity of the offence. The Court examined factors such as the nature of the accusation, the fact that the offences are not punishable with life imprisonment or death, the applicant’s clean record, the completion of substantial investigation, and the bail granted to co‑accused. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI; Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor) and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, the Court found no reason to keep the applicant in pre‑trial detention. Consequently, the Court ordered the applicant’s release on regular bail with a personal bond of Rs.25,000 and specified conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether bail should be granted under Section 483 BNSS for offences under the Arms Act that are not punishable with life imprisonment or death.
  • Whether the applicant’s lack of prior antecedents and the completion of substantial investigation justify bail.
  • Whether parity with co‑accused who have been granted bail warrants granting bail to the applicant.
  • How the principles laid down in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor apply to this bail application.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailBNSSArms Actpre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21bail jurisprudenceGujarat

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/18894/2026                               ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 18894 of 2026

==========================================================
                  DHRUV @ KANAIYO SUNILGIRI GOSWAMI
                                Versus
                          STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR BHAVIN S RAIYANI(3855) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR KANVA ANTANI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 14/08/2026

                                 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.11208037260495 of 2026 registered with Kuvadva
Road Police Station, Rajkot for the o.ences punishable under
Sections 25(1)(A) and 25(7)(i) of the Arms Act.

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant
submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely
implicated in the o.ence. 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



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   R/CR.MA/18894/2026                              ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




present application for regular bail on the ground that the
applicant is very much involved in the present o.ence and
considering the gravity of o.ence, no case is made out to entertain
present bail application. Therefore, present application does not
deserve consideration.

[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)     Substantial part of investigation is over;
      (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 15/07/2026;
      (4)     That the muddamal is recovered and nothing remains



                                 Page 2 of 5
   R/CR.MA/18894/2026                                     ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




      to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
      (5)     The applicant is having no past antecedent;
      (6)     Prosecution has failed to point out the circumstances to
      continue or prolong his incarceration;
      (7)     Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will
      take some time;
      (8)     Co-accused having similarly situated role 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      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


                                   Page 3 of 5
   R/CR.MA/18894/2026                             ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




C.R.No.11208037260495 of 2026 registered with Kuvadva
Road Police Station, Rajkot 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
          every month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m.
          and 2.00 p.m.;
   (f)    furnish the Aadhaar card, email ID/present address of
          his residence to the Investigating O.icer and also to the
          Court at the time of execution of the bond and shall not
          change the 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 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.


                                Page 4 of 5
        R/CR.MA/18894/2026                                                         ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




  [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 inFuenced 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)
  ILA



Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ILA PRAFULKUMAR PATEL(HC00194), Principal Pvt Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 14/08/2026 15:49:34




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