RONAKKUMAR MANILAL TRIVEDIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
Holding
The Court held that, on the facts, regular bail should be granted to the applicant.
Summary
The petitioner, Ronakkumar Manilal Trivedi, applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in connection with an FIR alleging offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act (sections 7(a), 7A, 12, 13(1)(a) and 13(2)). The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the alleged corruption offences. The Court examined the applicant’s residence, lack of criminal antecedents, and the absence of any pending recovery or discovery against him, and considered the Supreme Court’s guidelines in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI. Finding that the applicant satisfied the criteria for bail and that imposing conditions would safeguard the trial, the Court exercised its discretion to grant regular bail. The order directed the applicant to execute a bail bond of Rs.25,000 with two sureties and imposed several conditions, including surrender of passport, residence reporting, and regular police station attendance.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- Whether the nature of the alleged corruption offences and the applicant's role justify denial of bail.
- Whether the Court may impose conditions to ensure the applicant's compliance and the integrity of the trial.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 483
- Prevention of Corruption Acts. 12, s. 13(1)(a), s. 13(2), s. 7(a), s. 7A
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/5649/2026 ORDER DATED: 09/03/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 5649 of 2026
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RONAKKUMAR MANILAL TRIVEDI
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR RATHIN P RAVAL(5013) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR. NIRAJ SHARMA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE UTKARSH THAKORBHAI
DESAI
Date : 09/03/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned advocate appearing on behalf of the
applicant and learned APP appearing on behalf of the
respondent-State.
2. Rule. Learned APP waives service of rule on behalf of the
respondent-State.
3. The applicant has led 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.
11194022260001 of 2026 registered with Surat City ACB Police
Station, Surat for the o/ence punishable under Sections 7(a), 7A,
12, 13(1)(a) and 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act.
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R/CR.MA/5649/2026 ORDER DATED: 09/03/2026
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, 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 o/ence and the role attributed to the present
applicant, this Court may not exercise 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 applicant is a permanent resident of Surat, hence
would be available at the time of trial;
ii. No further recovery or discovery is to be e/ected either
from the applicant or his premises;
iii. The applicant does not have any criminal antecedents.
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R/CR.MA/5649/2026 ORDER DATED: 09/03/2026
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 t
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. 11194022260001 of 2026 registered with Surat City
ACB Police Station, Surat, on executing a bail bond of Rs.25,000/-
(Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two sureties each 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;
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R/CR.MA/5649/2026 ORDER DATED: 09/03/2026
[c] surrender passport, if any, to the lower court within a
week, and if he does not possess a passport, he shall le an
a>davit to that e/ect;
[d] not leave the State of Gujarat without prior permission of
the Sessions Court concerned;
[e] furnish the present address of his residence to the I.O. and
the Court at the time of execution of the bond and shall not
change his residence without prior intimation to the I.O. and
the court;
[f] mark his presence on every Monday and Thursday before
the concerned police station till ling of the chargesheet.
[g] not indulge in similar kind of o/ence hereinafter, for
which, he shall le a>davits before the concerned court and
the police station.
9. The Authorities will release the applicant only if he is not
required in connection with any other o/ence for the time being.
If breach of any of the above conditions is committed, the
Sessions/Special Court concerned will be at liberty to take
appropriate action in accordance with law.
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R/CR.MA/5649/2026 ORDER DATED: 09/03/2026
10. Bail bond to be executed before the trial 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 competent court shall not be
inCuenced by any observations of this Court which are of
preliminary nature, made at this stage only for the purpose of
enlarging the applicant on regular bail.
12. The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. Rule is
made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is
permitted.
(UTKARSH THAKORBHAI DESAI, J)
ANIRUDH OJHA
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ANIRUDH OJHA(HC02370), ENGLISH STENO GRADE-II\, at High Court of Gujarat on 10/03/2026 17:45:32
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