YOGESHWAR HARIBHAU SODAGARversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

     R/CR.MA/8975/2026                              ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 8975
                          of 2026
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                         YOGESHWAR HARIBHAU SODAGAR
                                    Versus
                              STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR A A ZABUAWALA(6823) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR. KRUTIK A. PARIKH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P. M. RAVAL

                               Date : 20/04/2026

                                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. 11213094250908 of 2025 registered
with Gondal City “B” Division Police Station, District: Rajkot
Rural, for the offences punishable under Sections 317(4), 318(4) and
61(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhinta, 2023.

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
available during the course of investigation and trial also and will
not flee from justice.


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      R/CR.MA/8975/2026                           ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026




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
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


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     R/CR.MA/8975/2026                          ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026




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 amount to the tune of Rs.11,50,000/- by way of the various
transactions which carried out from the account of present applicant
who is resident of Maharashtra, whereas the amount transferred to
Dharmik Dilipbhai Chauhan is resident of Gondal, District: Rajkot.

b)     today, the applicant has placed on record the photocopy of the
complaint lodge before the Senior Police Inspector, Umarga, though
undated but has been stated that given in the month of June, 2025.
Subsequently also before lodging of the present FIR, the Police
Commissioner, Solapur City, has also been given by the the present
applicant as a victim on 30.07.2025, as to how the he is also victim
to the alleged offence;

c)    learned advocate for the applicant further relied on the notice
dated 19.01.2026, issued by the Police Inspector, Cyber Crime
Police Station, Vadodara City, under Section 35(3) of the BNSS
2023, wherein also he has been shown that the amount received in
the account of the Yogeshwar Haribau Sodagar as first beneficiary
account and also given his statement there to the effect that Vikas
Nagnath Mote and Reshma Shyam Kalurang have cheated
Yogeshwar Haribau Sodagar by sending link under the pretext of
KYC, and photocopy of the same is also taken on record;

d)     the applicant has no past antecedents;

e)    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


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     R/CR.MA/8975/2026                             ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026




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.

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
       27.04.2026 between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.;

       (e)      shall at the time of execution of bond, furnish the


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      R/CR.MA/8975/2026                                                              ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026




          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
          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 20/04/2026 17:57:42




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