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High Court of Gujarat

SUNIL MULTANARAMJI BISHNOIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that, given the non‑capital nature of the offences, the applicant’s clean record and the lack of risk of tampering, regular bail could be granted under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023.

Summary

The petitioner, Sunil Multanaramji Bishnoi, a driver, was arrested on 21‑02‑2026 for alleged possession of illicit liquor worth Rs 72.71 lakh under Sections 65(E), 81, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act. He filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 after the charge‑sheet was filed. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offence. The Court examined factors such as the non‑capital nature of the charges, the petitioner’s clean antecedent, the absence of any material to be recovered, and the risk of pre‑trial detention amounting to a de facto conviction. Relying on precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the Court concluded that bail is the rule and jail the exception, and granted regular bail with a personal bond and several conditions. The order directs the petitioner to surrender passport, report monthly to police, and not leave Gujarat except for court or police appearances.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 for offences under the Gujarat Prohibition Act.
  • Whether the nature of the alleged offences, the petitioner’s record and the risk of tampering justify denial of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailSection 483 BNSSGujarat Prohibition Actpre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21bail conditions

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/11635/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 16/06/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 11635 of 2026
==========================================================
                SUNIL MULTANARAMJI BISHNOI
                              Versus
                      STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR MUNJAL V ACHARYA(10678) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR HARDIK MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 16/06/2026
                                  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.11214046260299 of 2026 registered with
Palsana Police Station, Surat Rural for the offences under Sections 65(E),
81, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the offence and now
nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. 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 looking to the nature and gravity of the offence.

[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


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      R/CR.MA/11635/2026                                   ORDER DATED: 16/06/2026




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)       The allegation is that the applicant is driver of the vehicle involved
          in the offence and was found in conscious possession of muddamal
          IMFL worth Rs.72.71 lakh however, now the investigation is over and
          charge-sheet is filed;

(2)       None of the offence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
          death penalty and is triable by the Court of Magistrate;

(3)       Applicant is behind the bars since 21.02.2026;

(4)       There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;

(5)       The applicant is not having any past antecedent;

(6)       Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some
          time.

[7.0] This Court has also taken into consideration the law laid down by the



                                    Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/11635/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 16/06/2026




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.11214046260299 of 2026 registered with Palsana Police Station, Surat
Rural on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-five
Thousand only) with one LOCAL 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 &
             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 to enter the State of Gujarat except for marking presence
            before the concerned police station and/or for attending the
            Court proceedings;

     (e)    mark presence before the concerned Police Station once in a
            month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00
            p.m.;



                                     Page 3 of 4
    R/CR.MA/11635/2026                                                          ORDER DATED: 16/06/2026




     (f)      furnish the UIDAI Number, Contact Number/s, Passport Number
              (if he is having the passport), E-mail address and present address
              of his residence to the Investigating Officer and also to the Court
              at the time of execution of the bond and shall not change the
              residence without prior permission of Trial Court;

     (h)      not to indulge in any illegal activity or any similar type of offence
              failing which concerned Investigating Officer shall have liberty to
              file an application for cancellation of bail against the present
              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.)
Ajay
  Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
  Digitally signed by: AJAY CHANDRAN MENON(HC00939), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 16/06/2026 15:02:29




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