High Court of Gujarat
LAKSHMAN KISHANLALJI BHURALALJI KIRversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Decided
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- NIKHIL S KARIEL
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
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 483
- Gujarat Prohibition Act — s. 65(a), 65(e), 81
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.
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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.
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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;
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[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
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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
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