SARFARAZ S/O MOHMMAD AADAM NAGANIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
Holding
The Court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, subject to the conditions imposed.
Summary
The petitioner, Sarfaraz, applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with FIR C.R. No. 11210055260276 alleging offences under Sections 316(5), 318(4), 351(3), 352 and 54 of the same Act. The applicant, a permanent resident of Telangana, was alleged to have acted as a broker introducing the main accused to the complainant. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offences and the applicant's role. The Court considered the applicant’s clean criminal record, his willingness to remain within Gujarat, and the possibility of imposing stringent conditions to mitigate any risk. Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI, the Court found the case fit for exercising its discretion and granted regular bail with a Rs.25,000 bond and multiple conditions. The order also directed that any breach of conditions could lead to revocation of bail by the Sessions Court.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for the offences alleged against the applicant.
- Whether the applicant’s role as a broker and the nature of the alleged offences justify denial of bail.
- Whether imposing strict bail conditions sufficiently safeguards the trial process and prevents the applicant’s flight or repeat offence.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 316(5), s. 318(4), s. 351(3), s. 352, s. 483, s. 54
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/8414/2026 ORDER DATED: 21/04/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 8414 of 2026
==========================================================
SARFARAZ S/O MOHMMAD AASAM NAGANI
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
PRASHANT V CHAVDA(8510) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR. SOAHAM JOSHI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE UTKARSH THAKORBHAI
DESAI
Date : 21/04/2026
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 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.
11210055260276 of 2026 registered with Salabatpura Police
Station, Surat for the offence punishable under Sections 316(5),
318(4), 351(3), 352 and 54 of the BNS, 2023.
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R/CR.MA/8414/2026 ORDER DATED: 21/04/2026
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. Learned advocate for the applicant has
submitted that, the applicant shall not leave the State of Gujarat
till the trial is over.
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 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 though is a permanent resident of
Telangana, he shall not leave the State of Gujarat, hence
would be available at the time of trial;
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R/CR.MA/8414/2026 ORDER DATED: 21/04/2026
ii. The applicant does not have any criminal antecedents;
iii. As per the prosecution case, the role of the applicant is that
of a broker who had introduced the main accused
Mohammad Ghaus Khan Muhammad Akbar Khan with the
original complainant, and it was the original complainant
who had sent the dress materials to the main accused.
iv. The apprehension of the learned APP, as regards the non-
availability of the applicant during the trial or that he would
indulge in similar or such offences if granted bail, can be
put to rest by imposing stringent conditions.
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
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R/CR.MA/8414/2026 ORDER DATED: 21/04/2026
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. 11210055260276 of 2026 registered with Salabatpura
Police Station, Surat, on executing a bail bond of Rs.25,000/-
(Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with two local sureties 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, and if he does not possess a passport, he shall file an
affidavit to that effect;
[d] not leave the geographical limits of Surat district
without prior permission of the Court concerned;
[e] furnish the present address of his residence in Gujarat to
the I.O. and the Court at the time of execution of the bond
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R/CR.MA/8414/2026 ORDER DATED: 21/04/2026
along with documentary proof, and shall not change his
residence without prior intimation to the I.O. and the court;
[f] mark his presence on every alternate day for two
months, and thereafter, on every Monday before the
concerned police station till the trial is over.
[g] not indulge in similar kind of offence hereinafter, for
which, he shall file affidavits 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 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.
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
influenced by any observations of this Court which are of
preliminary nature, made at this stage only for the purpose of
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R/CR.MA/8414/2026 ORDER DATED: 21/04/2026
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 22/04/2026 10:55:25
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