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High Court of Gujarat

RAJESHBHAI DHULABHAI DAMORversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail and allowed the application subject to a personal bond and conditions.

Summary

The High Court considered a successive regular bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, on behalf of Rajeshbhai Dhulabhai Damor, who was charged under Sections 74, 75(2) and 351(3) of the same Act for allegedly trespassing into a woman's house and attempting to molest her. The investigation was complete and a chargesheet had been filed; the applicant had no prior criminal record and had been in custody since 12 July 2026. The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the alleged offence. The Court applied established bail principles, noting the offences did not attract life imprisonment or death penalty, and cited Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor). Relying on the constitutional guarantee of personal liberty under Article 21 and the maxim that bail is the rule and jail the exception, the Court granted regular bail subject to a personal bond of Rs.25,000 and several conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether the accused is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS after a chargesheet has been filed for offences under Sections 74, 75(2) and 351(3).
  • Whether the nature of the alleged offence and the absence of prior antecedents justify the grant of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailsuccessive bailchargesheetBharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitapersonal libertyArticle 21criminal procedureGujarat

Judgment

 R/CR.MA/19488/2026(GJHC240630332026)                   ORDER DATED: 21/08/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

 R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR SUCCESSIVE REGULAR BAIL -
            AFTER CHARGESHEET) NO. 19488 of 2026
==========================================================
                        RAJESHBHAI DHULABHAI DAMOR
                                   Versus
                             STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
JIGNESHKUMAR M NAYAK(8558) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS MAITHILI MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                                   Date : 21/08/2026

                                        ORDER

[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-State.

[2.0] The present successive 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. 11188007260172 of 2026 registered
with Meghraj Police Station, Dist. Aravalli, for the o1ences under
Sections 74, 75(2) and 351(3) 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.
Investigation is over and chargesheet has been "led. Nothing is required to
be recovered or discovered. He has no past antecedent. Allegation against
the applicant is that, when the complainant was alone at her home, the
applicant came into the house and tried to molest her. 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 tried to molest the complainant Therefore,


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 R/CR.MA/19488/2026(GJHC240630332026)                     ORDER DATED: 21/08/2026




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)     investigation is over and chargesheet has been "led;
       (2)     None of the o1ence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
               death penalty ;
       (3)     Applicant is behind the bar since 12.07.2026;
       (4)     Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take
               its own time.
       (5)     No past antecedent.
       (6)     Considered the quantum of punishment.

[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


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 R/CR.MA/19488/2026(GJHC240630332026)                      ORDER DATED: 21/08/2026




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.
11188007260172 of 2026 registered with Meghraj Police Station, Dist.
Aravalli, 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 OEcer and also to the Court at the
           time of execution of the bond and shall not change the
           residence/contact number without prior permission of Trial



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 R/CR.MA/19488/2026(GJHC240630332026)                                             ORDER DATED: 21/08/2026




             Court;
    (g)      not to indulge in any illegal activity failing which learned trial
             Court shall issue warrant and cancel the bail of the applicant.
    (h)      Not to contact or try to contact directly or indirectly the
             complainant/victim/witnesses connected with the o1ence.
[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 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 21/08/2026 15:31:39

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