CHANDKHAN JANUBHAI BALOCHversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The Court allowed the regular bail application, granting bail on a personal bond with conditions.
Summary
The applicants, Chandkhan Janubhai Baloch and another, were arrested on 29 April 2026 in connection with a FIR alleging that they threatened a deceased person to recover a loan of Rs.11.30 lakh, leading to the deceased's suicide. They sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, claiming innocence and no further recovery is required. The State opposed bail, citing the gravity of the offences under Sections 108, 351(3), 316 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The Court considered factors such as the nature of the accusation, the applicants' clean record, parity with co‑accused already on bail, and principles from Supreme Court precedents emphasizing personal liberty. Concluding that the case warranted the exercise of discretion, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with several conditions.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 BNSS for offences punishable under Sections 108, 351(3), 316 and 54 BNS given the nature of the allegations.
- Whether the applicants' lack of antecedents and the fact that co‑accused are on bail justify granting bail.
- Whether the conditions imposed are sufficient to prevent tampering with evidence or witnesses.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 483
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023s. 108, s. 316, s. 351(3), s. 54
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/19017/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
CHARGESHEET) NO. 19017 of 2026
==========================================================
CHANDKHAN JANUBHAI BALOCH & ANR.
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR MALAV M MULANI(8844) for the applicants(s) No. 1,2
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 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.11217027260332 of 2026 registered with
Radhanpur Police Station, District Patan for the o?ences punishable
under Sections 108, 351(3), 316 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
(for short “BNS”).
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicants submits that
applicants are innocent and have 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 applicants 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.
[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
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R/CR.MA/19017/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026
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 case of the prosecution is that co-accused lent Rs.11.30 lakh to
the deceased i.e. husband of the complainant and for recovery of
the same, accused persons administered threat to the deceased that
false rape case would be foisted upon the deceased due to which
the deceased committed suicide however, now the investigation is
over and charge-sheet is 7led;
(2) Applicants are behind the bars since 29.04.2026;
(3) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicants;
(4) The applicants are not having any past antecedent;
(5) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some
time;
(6) Co-accused similarly situated enlarged on regular bail by the
learned Sessions Court and therefore, on the ground of parity
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R/CR.MA/19017/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026
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 applicants 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 applicants on regular bail.
Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicants are ordered to be
released on regular bail in connection with FIR being C.R.
No.11217027260332 of 2026 registered with Radhanpur Police Station,
District Patan on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-
7ve Thousand only) each 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;
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R/CR.MA/19017/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026
(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 their 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 applicants.
[9.0] The authorities will release the applicants only if they are 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 applicants 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 14/08/2026 14:50:10
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