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High Court of Gujarat

MUKESHKUMAR S/O PANNALAL KALAL (NAME AS PER SESSIONS COURT ORDER)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that, given the completed investigation, chargesheet, and established bail jurisprudence, the applicant is entitled to regular bail.

Summary

MUKESHKUMAR was arrested in connection with an offence under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and IPC sections 465, 468, 471 and 120B. The investigation was completed and a chargesheet filed. He applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, claiming innocence despite past antecedents. The Court examined the nature of the allegations, the completed investigation, the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, and the fact that co‑accused in similar positions had been granted bail. Relying on precedents such as Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor, the Court held that the applicant was entitled to bail and ordered his release on a personal bond with several conditions. The bail order was made absolute, subject to compliance with the stipulated conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether bail can be granted after the filing of a chargesheet under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023.
  • Whether the applicant’s past antecedents preclude the grant of regular bail.
  • Whether parity with co‑accused who were granted bail warrants the same relief.
  • Whether the nature of the offences under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and IPC sections justifies denial of bail.
  • Whether the conditions imposed are sufficient to safeguard the trial process.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailSection 483 BNSSGujarat Prohibition ActIPCpre‑trial detentionbail jurisprudenceArticle 21paritybail conditions

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/19091/2026                              ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

    R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
                CHARGESHEET) NO. 19091 of 2026
==========================================================
  MUKESHKUMAR S/O PANNALAL KALAL (NAME AS PER SESSIONS
                     COURT ORDER)
                         Versus
                   STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
ADILHUSHAIN M SAIYED(9723) 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 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. 11216012240070 of 2024 registered
with Rakhiyal Police Station, Gandhinagar, for the o.ence under the
provisions of The Gujarat Prohibition Act and Sections 465, 468, 471 and
120B of IPC.

[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 is
involved in the present o.ence. He has            ve past antecedents.
Considering the conduct of the applicant, application does not deserve



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      R/CR.MA/19091/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




any 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)       The applicant’s vehicle came to be used in transporting liquor.
(2)       Though the applicant is having past      antecedent,         heis
         presumed to be innocent till proven guilty;
(3)      Applicant is behind the bar since 01.07.2026;
(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.
(8)      Co-accused having similarly situated role are enlarged on regular
         bail and therefore, on the ground of parity also (Rameshbhai



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    R/CR.MA/19091/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




         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
C.R. No. 11216012240070 of 2024 registered with Rakhiyal Police
Station, Gandhinagar 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;



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     R/CR.MA/19091/2026                                                        ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




    (c)       surrender passport, if any, to the Trial Court within a week;
    (d)       not leave the territory of India 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 copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
              permanent and present address of his residence to the
              Investigating OEcer 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 inHuenced 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)
SUCHIT

Original copy 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 17/08/2026 14:37:52

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