Created by Fuzzy Cloud

High Court of Gujarat

LAKSHMAN KISHANLALJI BHURALALJI KIRversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Decided
Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court allowed the application for regular bail, finding a prima facie case and imposing appropriate conditions.

Summary

The applicants, Lakshman Kishanlaji Bhuralalji Kir and another, were charged under Sections 65(a), 65(e) and 81 of the Gujarat Prohibition Act for allegedly transporting contraband liquor as driver and co‑driver. They filed an application for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, asserting no prior criminal record and willingness to comply with conditions. The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the offence and the applicants' non‑resident status could lead to absconding. The Court, relying on the principle laid down in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI, held that the allegations were prima facie and the applicants were not owners or ultimate recipients of the liquor, and therefore bail could be exercised. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail with a bond of Rs.10,000 each and imposed several conditions such as surrender of passport, residence reporting, and periodic police verification.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted to the accused under the Gujarat Prohibition Act for contraband liquor offences.
  • Whether the applicants' role as driver/co‑driver and their non‑resident status justify denial of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • regular bail
  • contraband liquor
  • Gujarat Prohibition Act
  • non‑resident accused
  • Section 483 B.N.S.
  • bail conditions
  • criminal procedure

Judgment

      R/CR.MA/2815/2026                              ORDER DATED: 09/02/2026




             IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

 R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR SUCCESSIVE REGULAR BAIL -
            BEFORE CHARGESHEET) NO. 2815 of 2026

==========================================================
                LAKSHMAN KISHANLAJI BHURALALJI KIR & ANR.
                                 Versus
                           STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
KAMALKUMAR R SHARMA(9502) for the Applicant(s) No. 1,2
O I PATHAN(7684) for the Applicant(s) No. 1,2
MS DIVYANGNA JHALA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

     CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIKHIL S. KARIEL

                             Date : 09/02/2026
                              ORAL ORDER


1.      Heard learned Advocate Mr. O. I. Pathan appearing on behalf of

the applicants and learned Additional Public Prosecutor Ms. Divyangna

Jhala appearing on behalf of the respondent-State.

2.      Rule. Learned APP waives service of rule on behalf of the

respondent-State.

3.      The applicants have filed this application under Section 483 of the

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for enlarging the applicants on

Regular Bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No. 11188008250904 of

2025 registered with Modasa Rural Police Station, District Aravalli, for

the offence punishable under Sections 65(a), 65(e) and 81of the Gujarat

Prohibition Act.




                                  Page 1 of 5
      R/CR.MA/2815/2026                              ORDER DATED: 09/02/2026




4.      Learned advocate for the applicants would submit that considering

the role attributed to the applicants, and nature of the allegation levelled,

the applicants may be enlarged on regular bail. It is further contended that

the applicants are ready and willing to abide by all the conditions that

may be imposed by this Court if released on bail.

5.      As against the same, learned Additional Public Prosecutor

appearing for the respondent – State has vehemently objected to the grant

of regular bail. Learned APP has submitted that looking to the nature of

offence and the role attributed to the present applicants as coming out

from the affidavit of the Investigating Officer, this Court may not

exercise the discretion in favour of the applicants and the application may

be dismissed.

6.      I have heard learned advocates appearing on behalf of the

respective parties and perused the papers. Following aspects are

considered:-

     i. While allegation against the applicants being that they were driver

     and co-driver, respectively, of the vehicle from which the contraband-

     liquor had been recovered, yet, it would appear that the applicants

     were neither the owners of the contraband-liquor nor the ultimate

     recipients of the same.


                                  Page 2 of 5
      R/CR.MA/2815/2026                               ORDER DATED: 09/02/2026




     ii. The fact of the applicants not having any antecedent.

     iii. Apprehension of the learned APP that the applicants are not being

     resident of the State of Gujarat, if released, tbey may abscond, could

     be allayed by imposing suitable conditions.

        This Court has taken into consideration the law laid down by the

Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau

of Investigation reported in [2012] 1 SCC 40.

7.      In the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the

nature of the allegations made against the applicants in the First

Information Report, without discussing the evidence in detail, prima

facie, this Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the

discretion and enlarge the applicants on regular bail.

8.      Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicants are

ordered to be released on bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No.

11188008250904 of 2025 registered with Modasa Rural Police Station,

District Aravalli, on executing a bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten

Thousand only) each with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction

of the trial Court and subject to the conditions that they shall;

     [a] not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;




                                   Page 3 of 5
      R/CR.MA/2815/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 09/02/2026




      [b] not act in a manner injurious to the interest of the prosecution;

      [c] surrender passport, if any, to the lower court within a week;

      [d] not leave the State of Gujarat without prior permission of the

      Sessions Court concerned;

      [e] furnish the proposed address of residence to the I.O. and also to

      the Court at the time of execution of the bond and shall not change the

      residence without prior intimation to the I.O.;

      [f] mark presence once a fortnight till the charge-sheet is filed and

      thereafter once a month for a period of three months before the

      concerned police station.

9.       The Authorities will release the applicants only if they are not

required in connection with any other offence for the time being. If

breach of any of the above conditions is committed, the Sessions Court

concerned will be free to take appropriate action in the matter.

10.      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.      At the stage of trial, the trial court shall not be influenced by any

observations of this Court which are of preliminary nature made at this



                                     Page 4 of 5
      R/CR.MA/2815/2026                                                            ORDER DATED: 09/02/2026




stage, only for the purpose of considering the application of the applicants

for being released on regular bail.

12.      The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. Rule is made

absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is permitted.




                                                                                     (NIKHIL S. KARIEL,J)
BDSONGARA



Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: BHUPENDRASINH DHANESINH SONGARA(HC01082), Private Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 10/02/2026 14:10:59




                                                     Page 5 of 5


Continue reading with your account

Sign in to read the full judgment. It’s free.

Sign in to read

Checking your session…

Lawyer court records for this case

Associated through the court’s case reference.

For a signed copy suitable for filing, refer to the court's website.