ANIRUDDHBHAI DADUBHAI KHACHARversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The Court held that regular bail should be granted to the applicant.
Summary
The applicant, Aniruddhbhai Dadubhai Khachar, filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR under the Gujarat Prohibition Act. The applicant claimed innocence, no prior record, and that the investigation was substantially complete with no further recovery required. The State opposed bail, arguing the applicant's involvement and the gravity of the offence, noting that a chargesheet had not yet been filed. The Court examined established bail principles, the nature of the offence, the status of the investigation, and the applicant's personal circumstances, citing Supreme Court precedents. Concluding that the offence did not warrant pre‑trial detention and that personal liberty under Article 21 must be protected, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond with several conditions.
Issues considered
- Whether bail can be granted under Section 483 of the BNSS before a chargesheet is filed.
- Whether the nature of the offence under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and the status of investigation justify denial of bail.
- Whether the applicant's personal liberty under Article 21 outweighs the State's interest in pre‑trial detention.
Legislation cited
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/11262/2026 ORDER DATED: 11/05/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 11262 of 2026
==========================================================
ANIRUDDHBHAI DADUBHAI KHACHAR
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR BHUNESH C RUPERA(3896) 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. 11190005260138 of 2026 registered
with Paliyad Police Station, Botad, for the offence under the provisions of
The Gujarat Prohibition Act.
[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 has no past antecedent. 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
regular bail on the ground that the applicant is very much involved in the
present offence and considering the gravity of offence, no case is made out
to entertain present bail application. Chargesheet is yet to be filed.
Therefore, present application does not deserve consideration.
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R/CR.MA/11262/2026 ORDER DATED: 11/05/2026
[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 behind the bar since 12.04.2026;
(4) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
applicant;
(5) No past antecedent.
(6) Offence is triable by JMFC Court.
(7) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take
its own time.
[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
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R/CR.MA/11262/2026 ORDER DATED: 11/05/2026
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.
11190005260138 of 2026 registered with Paliyad Police Station, Botad
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;
(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
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R/CR.MA/11262/2026 ORDER DATED: 11/05/2026
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.
[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
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 11:33:04
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