High Court of Gujarat
KAMLESH S/O SOHANLAL GANESHLAL TELIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Decided
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- NIKHIL S KARIEL
Holding
The Court held that, on the facts, the applicant is entitled to regular bail before the charge‑sheet is filed.
Summary
The accused, Kamlesh, applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 before a charge‑sheet was filed for alleged offences under the NDPS Act, including supply of 44 kg of bhang. The prosecution opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the narcotics offence and the accused's role as a supplier. The Court examined the facts, noting that the contraband was manufactured elsewhere, the accused had no prior criminal record, and the charge‑sheet was not yet prepared. Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI, the Court held that bail could be exercised in the interest of liberty where the case is prima facie. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail on a bond of Rs.50,000 with several conditions, directing the lower court to release the accused.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted before filing of a charge‑sheet under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for NDPS offences.
- Whether the nature of the alleged supply of 44 kg of bhang and the accused's role as supplier preclude the grant of bail.
- Whether the accused's lack of antecedents and willingness to comply with conditions justify bail.
- How the precedent set in Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation applies to bail decisions in NDPS cases.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — s. 483
- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — s. 20(b)(ii)(C), 25, 29, 8(C)
Subjects
- regular bail
- pre‑charge‑sheet bail
- NDPS Act
- narcotics supply
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Sanjay Chandra precedent
- bail conditions
Judgment
R/CR.MA/4946/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 4946 of 2026
========================================================
KAMLESH S/O SOHANLAL GANESHLAL TELI
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
========================================================
Appearance:
MR. KISHAN H DAIYA(6929) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR JAY MEHTA ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s)
No. 1
========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIKHIL S. KARIEL
Date : 27/02/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned Advocate Mr. Kishan Daiya on behalf of the applicant
and learned Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. Jay Mehta for the respondent-
State.
2. Rule. Learned APP waives service of rule on behalf of the
respondent-State.
3. The present applicant who has been arraigned as an accused has
preferred 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. 11199021250964 of 2025 registered
with Ankleshwar G.I.D.C Police Station, District: Bharuch for the
offence punishable under Sections 8(C), 20(b)(ii)(C), 25 and 29 of Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 ( hereinafter referred to as
the ‘NDPS Act’) before filing of the charge-sheet more particularly the
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R/CR.MA/4946/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
application preferred by the applicant having been rejected by the learned
Trial Court.
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 not 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 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 applicant, this Court may not exercise the
discretion in favour of the applicant and the application may be dismissed.
6. This Court has heard learned Advocates appearing on behalf of the
respective parties and perused the papers. Following aspects are considered:-
(i) The allegation being that the accused had transacted in the
contraband that is Bhang, weighing around 44 Kilograms.
(ii) The fact of the allegation against the applicant being that he
was supplier of the contraband in question and whereas it would
appear that the contraband was packed in readymade covers and it
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R/CR.MA/4946/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
would also appear from the perusal of the FIR that the same was
manufactured in Haryana.
(iii) The applicant being not attributed the manufacture and
whereas the role attributed is having supplied it to the other accused.
(iv) The fact of the accused who were found in concussions
possession, having been considered by learned Co-ordinate Bench as
well as this Court.
(v) The fact of the applicant being arrested on 25.04.2026.
(vi) There being no antecedents against the present applicant.
8. 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.
9. In the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the nature
of the allegations made against 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.
10. Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to
be released on bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No. 11199021250964
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R/CR.MA/4946/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
of 2025 registered with Ankleshwar G.I.D.C Police Station, District:
Bharuch on executing a bond of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousands
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] Mark his presence at the concerned Police Station once in a week
till charge-sheet is filed and thereafter once in a month for a period
of six months
[f] 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
residential address without prior permission of the Sessions Court;
11. 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 Judge concerned will be
free to take appropriate action in the matter.
12. 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.
13. 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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R/CR.MA/4946/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
stage, only for the purpose of considering the application of the applicant
for being released on regular bail.
14. The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. Rule is made
absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is permitted.
(NIKHIL S. KARIEL,J)
NIRU
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: NIRU ROSHAN SHAH(HC00211), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 03/03/2026 11:06:02
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