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High Court of Gujarat

AJAY @AJJU SURESHCHANDRA BADADWAL(LABANA)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court allowed the application and granted regular bail to the petitioner subject to a personal bond and conditions.

Summary

The petitioner, Ajay @Ajju Sureshchandra Badadwal, was charged under the Gujarat Prohibition Act for allegedly supplying contraband liquor, with a chargesheet already filed. He applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, claiming innocence and arguing that the investigation was complete. The State opposed, highlighting his alleged role as supplier and six prior antecedents. The Court examined the nature of the offence, the applicant's past record, the fact that the investigation was concluded, and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, citing Supreme Court precedents. Concluding that the applicant was presumed innocent and that continued detention would amount to pre‑trial punishment, the Court granted regular bail with a personal bond and several conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a chargesheet under Section 483 of the BNSS for an offence under the Gujarat Prohibition Act
  • Whether the applicant's past antecedents and alleged role as supplier preclude the grant of bail

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailchargesheetcontraband liquorGujarat Prohibition ActSection 483 BNSSpersonal libertyArticle 21pre‑trial detention

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/18965/2026                              ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

    R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
                CHARGESHEET) NO. 18965 of 2026
==========================================================
         AJAY @AJJU SURESHCHANDRA BADADWAL(LABANA)
                            Versus
                      STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR. MAULIK M SONI(7249) 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. 11821052260362 of 2026 registered
with Piplod Police Station, Dahod, for the o.ence under the provisions
of The Gujarat Prohibition 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.
Investigation is over and chargesheet has been        led. 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 submitted that, the applicant has
supplied the contraband liquor to the co-accused. Further, he has six past
antecedents. Considering the conduct of the applicant, application does
not deserve any consideration.



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      R/CR.MA/18965/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




[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 applicant is supplier.
(2)        Though the applicant is having past antecedents, he is
         presumed to be innocent till proven guilty;
(3)      Applicant is behind the bar since 01.06.2026;
(4)      Investigation is over and chargesheet has been led;
(5)      There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(6)      There is no possibility to conclude the trial in near future.
(7)      O.ence is triable by the Court of Magistrate.


[7.0] This Court has also taken into consideration the law laid down by



                                       Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/18965/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




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
C.R. No. 11821052260362 of 2026 registered with Piplod Police
Station, Dahod on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees
Twenty- ve Thousand only) with one local 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 India without prior permission of the Trial Court



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      R/CR.MA/18965/2026                                                       ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




               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 copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
               permanent and present address of his residence to the
               Investigating ODcer 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 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)
Original
SUCHITcopy 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 14/08/2026 15:56:12


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