NIKHIL HASMUKHBHAI SAVALIYAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- P M RAVAL
Holding
The Court allowed the anticipatory bail application, granting bail subject to a personal bond and specified conditions.
Summary
The applicant, Nikhil M. Savaliya, filed an anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking protection from arrest in connection with a FIR registered for offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 66(d) of the IT Act. He argued that custodial interrogation was unnecessary, he would cooperate with the investigation, and he posed no flight risk. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences. The Court examined the standard bail factors, noting that the applicant's name was not directly mentioned in the FIR, he had no prior criminal record, and he had given assurances of cooperation. Relying on precedents such as Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra, Gurubaksh Singh Sibbia, and Sushila Aggarwal, the Court granted anticipatory bail with a personal bond of Rs.10,000 and a set of conditions, while preserving the police's right to seek arrest for any breach.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail should be granted under Section 482 of the BNSS for the offences alleged in the FIR
- Whether the applicant poses a risk of fleeing, tampering with evidence, or influencing witnesses
- Whether the nature and gravity of the alleged offences preclude the grant of anticipatory bail
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 482, s. 483(2)
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023s. 318(4), s. 319(2), s. 336(2), s. 336(3), s. 338, s. 340(2), s. 3(5), s. 61(1)
- Information Technology Acts. 66(d)
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/7832/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/04/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 7832
of 2026
==========================================================
NIKHILM HASMUKHBHAI SAVALIYA
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR ASHISH M DAGLI(2203) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR. PRANAV DHAGAT, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P. M. RAVAL
Date : 07/04/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Rule. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor waives service of
notice of rule for respondent – State of Gujarat.
2. By way of this application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, “BNSS”), the applicant
has prayed for anticipatory bail in the event of arrest in connection
with the FIR being C.R. No. I-11210062250086 of 2025, registered
with Cyber Crime Police Station, District: Surat for the offences
punishable under Sections 319(2), 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(3),
340(2), 61(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and
Section 66(d) of the Information Technology Act.
3. Learned advocate for the applicant submits that the nature of
allegations are such that custodial interrogation at this stage is not
necessary. It is further submitted that the applicant will keep himself
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R/CR.MA/7832/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/04/2026
available during the course of investigation and trial also and will
not flee from justice.
3.1 The learned advocate for the applicant further states that the
applicant shall abide by all the conditions that may be imposed while
granting anticipatory bail to the applicant. Accordingly, it is urged
that this application may be allowed and to grant the anticipatory
bail to the applicant.
4. As against this, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor
appearing on behalf of the respondent – State has opposed grant of
anticipatory bail looking to the nature and gravity of the offence and
requested not to entertain this application.
5. Having heard the learned advocates appearing for the parties
and perusing the papers available on record, it is incumbent upon the
Court to exercise its discretion judiciously, cautiously and strictly in
compliance with the basic principles laid down in plethora of
decisions of the Apex Court on the point. It is well settled that,
among other circumstances, the factors to be borne in mind while
considering an application for bail are (i) the nature and gravity of
the accusation; (ii) the antecedents of the applicant including the fact
as to whether he has previously undergone imprisonment on
conviction by a Court in respect of any cognizable offence; (iii) the
possibility of the applicant to flee from justice; and (iv) where the
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R/CR.MA/7832/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/04/2026
accusation has been made with the object of injuring or humiliating
the applicant by having him so arrested. Though at the stage of
granting bail an elaborate examination of evidence and detailed
reasons touching the merits of the case, which may prejudice the
case of accused, should be avoided. However, following aspects
have been taken into consideration:
a) the name of the present applicant is not reflecting in the FIR;
the only allegation against the present applicant as per the charge-
sheet is to the effect that as per the statement of the accused No.1
who is main accused, the present applicant used to handle the
alleged application, however, not an iota of the statement of the co-
accused to the effect of any financial benefit has been accrued to the
present applicant is coming of record;
b) the applicant has no past antecedents;
c) the learned advocate for the applicant has assured that the
applicant will not flee from justice and would be available during
investigation as well as the trial.
6. Considering the aforesaid aspects and the law laid down by the
Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre
v. State of Maharashtra and Others, reported in (2011) 1 SCC
6941, wherein the Hon’ble Apex Court reiterated the law laid down
by the Constitution Bench in the case of Shri Gurubaksh Singh
Sibbia & Others, reported in (1980) 2 SCC 665 and also the
decision in the case of Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi),
reported in (2020) 5 SCC 1, the Court is inclined to allow the
present application.
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R/CR.MA/7832/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/04/2026
7. In the result, this application is allowed by directing that in the
event of arrest/appearance of the applicant in connection with the
above-referred FIR, the applicant shall be released on bail on
furnishing a personal bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand)
with one surety of like amount on the following conditions that
applicant:
(a) shall cooperate with the investigation and make
available for interrogation whenever required;
(b) shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement,
threat or promise to any person acquainted with the fact of the
case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the
court or to any police officer;
(c) shall not obstruct or hamper the police investigation and
not to play mischief with the evidence collected or yet to be
collected by the police;
(d) shall remain present at the concerned Police Station on
13.04.2026 between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.;
(e) shall at the time of execution of bond, furnish the
address to the investigating officer and the court concerned
and shall not change residence till the final disposal of the case
till further orders;
(f) shall not leave India without the permission of the Court
and if having passport shall deposit the same before the trial
Court within a week;
(g) It is open to the police or the investigating agency to
move the learned trial Court for a direction under Section
483(2) of the BNSS to arrest the accused, in the event of
violation of any term, such as absconding, non-cooperating
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during investigation, evasion, intimidation or inducement to
witnesses with a view to influence outcome of the
investigation or trial, etc.
7.1 At the trial, the Trial Court shall not be influenced by the
prima facie observations made by this Court while considering the
bail application.
8. It is made clear that this order of anticipatory bail does not in
any manner limit or restrict the rights or duties of the police or
investigative agency to investigate into the charges against the
applicant who is granted pre-arrest bail.
9. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is
permitted.
(P. M. RAVAL, J)
NITIN MAKWANA
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: NITIN INDRAVADAN MAKWANA(HCW0110), ENGLISH STENOGRAPHER GRADE I, at High Court of Gujarat on 07/04/2026 18:15:21
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