RIYA D/O VINODBHAI HARNARAYAN BHARTI (PANDIT)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The Court held that, given the substantial completion of investigation, recovery of the stolen property, and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, regular bail should be granted under Section 483 BNSS.
Summary
Riya applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR alleging trespass and theft of gold and silver ornaments worth Rs.53,88,000. The applicant claimed innocence, no prior record, and that the investigation was substantially complete with the stolen items already recovered. The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the alleged offences under sections 331(3), 331(4) and 305(a) of the BNSS. The Court considered factors such as the nature of the offence, the completed investigation, the absence of life or death penalty, and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, citing Supreme Court precedents. Concluding that the case warranted discretion in favour of liberty, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond with several conditions.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 BNSS before the filing of a chargesheet for offences under sections 331(3), 331(4) and 305(a).
- Whether the nature of the alleged theft and the status of investigation justify the grant of bail.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 305(a), s. 331(3), s. 331(4), s. 483
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/19469/2026(GJHC240631492026) ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 19469 of 2026
==========================================================
RIYA D/O VINODBHAI HARNARAYAN BHARTI (PANDIT)
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR NADEEM B MANSURI(11332) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR ROHAN SHAH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 20/08/2026
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. 11216008260489 of 2026 registered
with Gandhinagar Sector 7 Police Station, Gandhinagar, for the o1ences
under Sections 331(3), 331(4), 305(a) of the BNS.
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the o1ence.
Substantial part of investigation is over. Nothing is required to be recovered
or discovered. He has no past antecedent. Allegation against the applicant is
that, he trespassed into the house of the complainant and stolen gold and
silver ornaments worth of Rs. 53,88,000/-. Muddamal is already recover. In
this regard, FIR came to be lodged. He therefore submits that, considering
the nature of the o1ence, 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 on the ground that the applicant illegally trespassed into the
house of the complainant and looted muddamal of Rs.53,88,000/-.
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R/CR.MA/19469/2026(GJHC240631492026) ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026
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 o1ence, 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 o1ence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
death penalty ;
(3) Applicant is behind the bar since 21.07.2026;
(4) Recovery is already made and now there is nothing to be
further recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(5) He is not named in the FIR .
(6) O1ence is triable by JMFC Court.
(7) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take
its own 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
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R/CR.MA/19469/2026(GJHC240631492026) ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026
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.
11216008260489 of 2026 registered with Gandhinagar Sector 7 Police
Station, Gandhinagar, 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 a week
till "ling of the chargesheet and after "ling of the chargesheet,
mark presence before the concerned police station once in a
month for a period of six months;
(f) furnish the Aadhaar card, email ID/present address of his
residence to the Investigating OGcer and also to the Court at the
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R/CR.MA/19469/2026(GJHC240631492026) ORDER DATED: 20/08/2026
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 o1ence 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)
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 20/08/2026 15:18:04
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