High Court of Gujarat
AJAY KIRITBHAI SHRIMALIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The Court held that, on the facts, the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Summary
The applicant, a 19‑year‑old male, sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR alleging offences under Sections 69, 64(2)(M), 296(B), 351(1) and 351(3) of the same Act. He claimed innocence, stating that the allegations stemmed from a consensual relationship with a 32‑year‑old woman and that the investigation was substantially complete with no material to be recovered. The State opposed bail, arguing that the applicant had deceived the victim by false promises of marriage and therefore should remain in custody. The Court examined the nature of the offences, the applicant’s age, lack of prior record, the fact that none of the charges carried a life or death sentence, and the risk of flight or tampering, applying established bail jurisprudence. Relying on precedents such as Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor, the Court concluded that continued pre‑trial detention would amount to a de facto conviction. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond with specified conditions.
Issues considered
- Whether the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 BNSS before the filing of a chargesheet
- Whether the nature of the alleged offences and the applicant’s personal circumstances justify bail
- Whether there is a risk of flight, witness tampering, or obstruction of investigation
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhitas. 296(B), s. 351(1), s. 351(3), s. 64(2)(M), s. 69
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 483
Subjects
regular bailBharatiya Nagarik Suraksha SanhitaSection 483pre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyage of accusedfalse promise of marriage
Judgment
R/CR.MA/11247/2026 ORDER DATED: 11/05/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 11247 of 2026
==========================================================
AJAY KIRITBHAI SHRIMALI
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR AVANIDHAR M THAKORE(10377) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR HARDIK SONI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 11/05/2026
ORDER
[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-State.
[2.0] The present application is filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) for regular bail in
connection with FIR being C.R. No. 11191065260383 of 2026 registered
with Narol Police Station, Ahmedabad, for the offences under Sections 69,
64(2)(M), 296(B), 351(1) and 351(3) of the BNS.
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the offence.
Substantial part of investigation is over. Nothing is required to be recovered
or discovered. The applicant is 19 years old boy and has no past
antecedent. It is alleged against the applicant is that in the pretext of
marry, the applicant has developed physical relationship with the victim,
who is 32 years old and having three children. Except this, the applicant has
not committed offence as alleged against him. He therefore submits that,
considering the nature of the offence, the applicant may be enlarged on
regular bail by imposing suitable conditions.
[4.0] Learned APP appearing on behalf of the respondent-State has opposed
the present application and requested to dismiss the present application for
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regular bail on the ground that the applicant by giving false temptation of
marriage, committed offence as alleged against him. Therefore, present
application does not deserve consideration.
[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
accused in the alleged offence, the jurisdiction to grant bail has to be
exercised on the basis of the well settled principles having regard to the
facts and circumstances of each case and the following factors are to be
taken into consideration while considering an application for bail: (i) the
nature of accusation and the severity of the punishment and the nature of
the materials relied upon by the prosecution; (ii) reasonable apprehension
of tampering with the witnesses and threat to the complainant or the
witnesses; (iii) reasonable possibility of securing the presence of the
accused at the time of trial or the likelihood of his abscondence; (iv)
character behaviour and standing of the accused and the circumstances
which are peculiar to the accused; (v) larger interest of the public or the
State and similar other considerations are required to be considered.
[6.0] I have heard the learned advocates appearing on behalf of the
respective parties and perused the investigation papers. Following aspects
have been considered:
(1) Substantial part of investigation is over;
(2) None of the offence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
death penalty ;
(3) Applicant is 19 years old boy and behind the bar since
11.04.2026 ;
(4) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
applicant;
(5) No past antecedent.
(6) Learned Sessions Court has dismissed the bail application on
the ground that the applicant has not mentioned his
permanent address. Learned counsel for the applicant is ready
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and willing to furnish his permanent and present address of
the applicant.
(7) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take
its own time.
(8) Allegation against the applicant is that, he has developed
physical relation with the victim, who is 32 years old having
three children from 28.05.2025 to 10.04.2026, except no role
is attributed to the accused.
[7.0] This Court has also taken into consideration the law laid down by the
Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Sanjay Chandra vs. Central Bureau of
Investigation reported in [2012]1 SCC 40 as well as in the case of
Gudikanti Narasimhulu And Ors vs. Public Prosecutor, High Court of
Andhra Pradesh reported in (1978)1 SCC 240. Obviously, the conclusion of
trial will take time and keeping the accused behind the bars is nothing but
amounts to pre-trial conviction and therefore, considering the celebrated
principle of bail jurisprudence is that “bail is a rule and jail is exception” as
well as the concept of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the
Constitution of India, present application deserves consideration.
[8.0] In the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the nature
of the allegations made against the applicant in the FIR, 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.
Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to be
released on regular bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No.
11191065260383 of 2026 registered with Narol Police Station,
Ahmedabad on executing a personal 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/she shall;
(a) not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;
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R/CR.MA/11247/2026 ORDER DATED: 11/05/2026
(b) not act in a manner injurious to the interest of the prosecution &
shall not obstruct or hamper the police investigation and shall not
to play mischief with the evidence collected or yet to be collected
by the police;
(c) surrender passport, if any, to the Trial Court within a week;
(d) not leave the State of Gujarat without prior permission of the Trial
Court concerned;
(e) mark presence before the concerned Police Station once in a week
till filing of the chargesheet and after filing of the chargesheet,
mark presence before the concerned police station once in a
month for a period of six months;
(f) furnish the Aadhaar card, email ID/present address of his
residence to the Investigating OfÏcer and also to the Court at the
time of execution of the bond and shall not change the residence/
contact number without prior permission of Trial Court;
(g) not to indulge in any illegal activity failing which learned trial
Court shall issue warrant and cancel the bail of the applicant.
(h) Not to contact or try to contact directly or indirectly the
complainant/victim/witnesses connected with the offence.
[9.0] 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 Judge concerned will be free to
issue warrant or take appropriate action in the matter.
[10.0] Bail bond to be executed before the lower 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.
[11.0] At the trial, the trial Court shall not be influenced by the observations
of preliminary nature qua the evidence at this stage made by this Court
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while enlarging the applicant on bail.
[12.0] Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is
permitted
(HASMUKH D. SUTHAR,J)
SUCHIT
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: PATEL SUCHIT JAYESHBHAI(HC01083), Private Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 11/05/2026 11:33:36
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