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High Court of Gujarat

JIGAR AJITSINH ZALA (THAKOR)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail on a prima facie basis and ordered his release subject to conditions.

Summary

The applicant, Jigasr Ajitsinh Zala, was arrested in connection with an assault alleged under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Gujarat Police Act. He filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, claiming innocence and no risk of tampering with evidence. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offences. The Court examined factors such as the nature of the charges, the absence of life or death penalty, the applicant’s clean record, and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, also referring to Supreme Court precedents. Finding a prima facie case for bail, the Court granted regular bail with a personal bond and several conditions, directing the applicant to comply with reporting and conduct requirements.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 of the BNSS for offences punishable under the BNS and Gujarat Police Act before the filing of a chargesheet
  • Whether the nature of the alleged assault and the applicant's circumstances justify bail despite the State's opposition

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailpre‑trial detentionassaultpersonal libertyArticle 21bail jurisprudenceGujarat

Judgment

       R/CR.MA/19005/2026                             ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 19005 of 2026
==========================================================
                 JIGASR AJITSINH ZALA (THAKOR)
                               Versus
                       STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR BHARGAV K MEHTA(7094) 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.11216004260501 of 2026 registered with
Dabhoda Police Station, District Gandhinagar for the o@ences punishable
under Sections 115(2), 117(2), 118(2), 351(2), 324(2) and 54 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.



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      R/CR.MA/19005/2026                                   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 the applicant alongwith
          the co-accused had gone on motorcycle to the complainant and
          asked as to why he make calls to the wife of the present applicant
          and inIicted stick blow on the head and right hand of the
          complainant and caused fracture to the right hand of the
          complainant however, now the injured complainant is out of danger
          and discharged from the hospital and even otherwise, substantial
          part of investigation is over;

(2)       None of the o@ence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
          death penalty;

(3)       Applicant is behind the bars since 25.07.2026;

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



                                      Page 2 of 4
      R/CR.MA/19005/2026                                   ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




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

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

[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.11216004260501 of 2026 registered with Dabhoda Police Station,
District Gandhinagar 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;

       (c)      surrender passport, if any, to the Trial Court within a week;



                                       Page 3 of 4
    R/CR.MA/19005/2026                                                           ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




     (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
               week till Aling of the chargesheet and after Aling of the
               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 his residence to the
               Investigating OMcer 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 inIuenced 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 15:09:33




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