High Court of Gujarat
VIKTARBHAI S/O. JONEBHAI SHELATversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Decided
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- NIKHIL S KARIEL
Holding
The Court held that, on the facts, the case was suitable for the exercise of discretion to grant regular bail.
Summary
Viktarbhai Shelat was arrested in connection with an FIR alleging harassment under Section 75(1)(I) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 7 and 8 of the POCSO Act. The charge‑sheet was filed and he had been in custody since 13‑Dec‑2025. He filed an application under Section 483 of the BNS seeking regular bail, contending that the matter was essentially a misunderstanding and that the parties had reached a settlement. The State opposed bail, arguing that the nature of the offences and the role ascribed to the accused in the charge‑sheet warranted continued detention. Relying on the Supreme Court’s principles in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and noting the prima facie nature of the allegations, the Court held that bail could be granted. Accordingly, the Court ordered his release on regular bail upon execution of a Rs.10,000 bond with a surety and imposed standard conditions.
Issues considered
- What is the appropriate exercise of judicial discretion in granting regular bail after a charge‑sheet for offences under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the POCSO Act?
- Does the alleged settlement and the nature of the harassment allegation justify bail despite the seriousness of the charges?
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 483, 75(1)(I)
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act — s. 7, 8
Subjects
- regular bail
- charge‑sheet
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- POCSO Act
- harassment
- settlement
- high court
Judgment
R/CR.MA/3535/2026 ORDER DATED: 16/03/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR SUCCESSIVE REGULAR BAIL -
AFTER CHARGESHEET) NO. 3535 of 2026
==========================================================
VIKTARBHAI S/O. JONBHAI SHELAT
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR CHETAN B RAVAL(2090) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
NOTICE SERVED for the Respondent(s) No. 2
MR UTKARSH SHARMA ADDL. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the
Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIKHIL S. KARIEL
Date : 16/03/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned advocate Mr. Chetan Raval appearing on behalf of the
applicant, learned Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. Utkarsh Sharma
appearing on behalf of the respondent-State and learned advocate Mr.Dhruv
Thakkar, who has instructions to appear on behalf of respondent no.2 and
that he may be permitted to file his Vakalatnama.
2. Rule. Learned APP waives service of rule on behalf of the
respondent-State and learned advocate Mr. Thakore waives service of rule
on behalf of respondent no.2.
3. The applicant has filed this application under Section 483 of the
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for enlarging the applicant on
Regular Bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No. 11191024251473 of
2025 registered with Ramol Police Station, Ahmedabad City, for the offence
punishable under Sections 75(1) (I) of the BNS and Sections 7, 8 of the
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R/CR.MA/3535/2026 ORDER DATED: 16/03/2026
POCSO Act.
4. Learned advocate for the applicant would submit that considering the
role attributed to the applicant, and nature of the allegation levelled, the
applicant may be enlarged on regular bail. It is further submitted that since
the charge-sheet is filed no useful purpose would be served by keeping the
applicant in jail for indefinite period. It is further contended that the
applicant is 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 and learned advocate for respondent no.2 have
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 applicant as coming out from the charge-sheet, this Court may not
exercise the discretion in favour of the applicant 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. The allegation in the FIR being of harassment and whereas it would
appear that the parties have entered into a settlement, more particularly
all the parties living in the same and according to the party, the FIR
being result of the misunderstanding between the parties.
ii. The fact of the present applicant being in custody since 13.12.2025
and the charge-sheet having been laid by the Investigating Officer.
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R/CR.MA/3535/2026 ORDER DATED: 16/03/2026
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 applicant 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
applicant on regular bail.
8. Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to
be released on bail in connection with F.I.R. registered as C.R.
No.11191024251473 of 2025 registered with Ramol Police Station,
Ahmedabad City, on executing a bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten
Thousand only) with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the
trial Court and subject to the conditions that he shall;
[a] not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;
[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 present 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 month before the concerned police station for
a period of six months.
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R/CR.MA/3535/2026 ORDER DATED: 16/03/2026
9. The Authorities will release the applicant only if he is 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
stage, only for the purpose of considering the application of the applicant
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)
Y.N. VYAS
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: YAGNESH NARENDRABHAI VYAS(HC00207), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 17/03/2026 11:42:17
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