NIMESH ASHOK PADVEversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
Holding
The court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail and ordered his release subject to specified conditions.
Summary
The applicant, Nimesh Ashok Padve, sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 after a charge‑sheet was filed for alleged cyber‑fraud offences punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4), 318(4), 319(2), 61(2) & 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 66(c) & 66(d) of the Information Technology Act. The prosecution opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the offences and the applicant’s alleged role in managing fraudulent bank accounts. The court considered the applicant’s permanent residence in Navsari, lack of prior criminal record, completion of investigation, and the fact that similar co‑accused had been granted bail. Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI, the court found no legal impediment to granting bail and that strict conditions could mitigate any risk. Consequently, the court ordered the applicant’s release on regular bail subject to a cash bond, surety, and a series of detailed conditions including surrender of passport, residence restrictions, regular police reporting, and deposit of Rs.2,10,000.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a charge‑sheet under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
- Whether the nature of the alleged cyber‑fraud offences under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act warrants denial of bail.
- Whether the applicant’s personal circumstances, including residence, lack of antecedents, and completion of investigation, justify bail.
- Whether imposing stringent bail conditions suffices to protect the interests of justice and prevent further offences.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 483
- Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023s. 317(2), s. 317(4), s. 318(4), s. 319(2), s. 3(5), s. 61(2)
- Information Technology Act, 2000s. 66(c), s. 66(d)
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/8178/2026 ORDER DATED: 28/04/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
CHARGESHEET) NO. 8178 of 2026
==========================================================
NIMESH ASHOK PADVE
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR ZUBIN F BHARDA(159) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS JIRGA JHAVERI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE UTKARSH THAKORBHAI
DESAI
Date : 28/04/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned advocate appearing on behalf of the
applicant and learned Additional Public Prosecutor
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 filed this application under
Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,
2023 for enlarging the applicant on Regular Bail in
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R/CR.MA/8178/2026 ORDER DATED: 28/04/2026
connection with FIR being C.R. No. 11822024250018 of
2025 registered with Cyber Crime Police Station, Navsari
for the offence punishable under Sections 317(2), 317(4),
318(4), 319(2), 61(2) & 3(5) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita,
2023 and under Sections 66(c) & 66(d) of I.T. 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, further incarceration of
the applicant will not benefit the Investigation Officer in
any manner. 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. Learned
advocate for the applicant has submitted that, the
applicant is ready and willing to deposit Rs.2,10,000/-
which has come into his account from other states,
without prejudice to his rights and contentions within
such time, as the court may deem fit.
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R/CR.MA/8178/2026 ORDER DATED: 28/04/2026
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 as coming
out from the charge-sheet, 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 Navsari,
hence would be available at the time of trial;
ii. The applicant has no criminal antecedents;
iii. As per the prosecution case, the applicant had got
his friends and relatives open new bank accounts,
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R/CR.MA/8178/2026 ORDER DATED: 28/04/2026
which were managed by him;
iv. Also, as per the prosecution case, co-accused Rahul
Nandu Kumavat had given his bank accounts to co-
accused Anand Rameshbhai Rudani and the applicant
and co-accused Anand Rameshbhai Rudani had passed
on all these bank accounts along with his own bank
accounts as well as witnesses’ bank accounts to Milan
Rameshbhai Satani for depositing the cyber fraud
amounts;
v. The amount of commission which the applicant had
received is not being revealed from the investigation;
vi. As per the case, total amount of Rs.2,10,000/- was
deposited in the applicant’s bank account with Bank of
Baroda from the States of Telangana, Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu, for which online complaints came to be
registered;
vii. The co-accused Sumit Moradiya, has been
considered for regular bail by this court vide order
dated 20.04.2026 passed in Criminal Misc. Application
No. 8972 of 2026;
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R/CR.MA/8178/2026 ORDER DATED: 28/04/2026
viii. The investigation is over and charge-sheet has
been filed;
ix. The apprehension of learned APP, as regards the
applicant indulging in similar kind of offence, if
granted bail, can be put to rest by imposing strict
conditions.
7. 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.
8. 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.
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R/CR.MA/8178/2026 ORDER DATED: 28/04/2026
9. Hence, the applicant is ordered to be released on
bail in connection with F.I.R. registered as C.R. No.
11822024250018 of 2025 registered with Cyber Crime
Police Station, Navsari on executing a bail bond of
Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five 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 his passport, if any, to the trial court
within a week, and if he does not possess a passport,
he shall file an affidavit to that effect;
[d] not leave the geographical limits of Navsari district
without prior permission of the Trial Court concerned;
[e] furnish the present address of his residence to the
I.O. and to the Court at the time of execution of the
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R/CR.MA/8178/2026 ORDER DATED: 28/04/2026
bond together with documentary proof and shall not
change his residence without prior intimation to the
I.O. and the court;
[f] mark his presence before the concerned police
station every alternate day for a period of one month,
and thereafter on every Sunday till the completion of
trial;
[g] not indulge in similar kind of offence hereinafter,
for which, he shall file affidavits before the concerned
court and the police station;
[h] also deposit amount of Rs.2,10,000/- with the
concerned trial court within a period of one month
from today and shall file an undertaking before the
concerned trial court to that effect. The trial court
shall decide as regards the return/payment of
Rs.2,10,000/- so deposited by the applicant to the
concerned person/s, at the time of completion of trial.
It is hereby clarified that, the said amount shall not be
returned to the applicant.
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R/CR.MA/8178/2026 ORDER DATED: 28/04/2026
10. 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 at
liberty to take appropriate action in accordance with law.
11. 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.
12. At the stage of trial, the competent 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 enlarging the applicant on regular bail. The
application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. Rule is
made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is
permitted.
(UTKARSH THAKORBHAI DESAI, J)
DIVYA
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: DIVYA NAIR(HC00199), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 28/04/2026 18:15:32
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