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High Court of Gujarat

PREM @ APPU GOVIND CHITTEversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court allowed the application and granted regular bail with conditions.

Summary

The petitioner, Prem @ Appu Govind Chitte, was arrested on 18 May 2026 in connection with FIR C.R. No.11210047261038 alleging offences under Sections 118(2), 351(3), 352 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). He filed an application for regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS before the chargesheet was filed, claiming innocence and that no further recovery was required. The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the offences and risk of flight or evidence tampering. The Court examined the stage of investigation, the victim’s recovery, and applied established bail principles, also citing Sanjay Chandra v. CBI (2012) and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor (1978). Finding that pre‑trial detention would amount to a de facto conviction and that bail is the rule, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with a surety and several conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 of the BNSS before the filing of a chargesheet for the offences alleged.
  • Whether the nature of the offences and the risk of tampering or absconding justify denial of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailpre‑trial detentionBNSSSection 483personal libertyArticle 21criminal procedure

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/14974/2026                                       ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 14974 of 2026

==========================================================
                             PREM @ APPU GOVIND CHITTE
                                       Versus
                                 STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR. RAAJEN D JADHAV(10026) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR HARDIK MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                                  Date : 06/07/2026
                                      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.
11210047261038 of 2026 registered with Udhana Police
Station, Surat City, for the offences under Sections 118(2),
351(3), 352 and 54 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. 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


                                      Page 1 of 5
   R/CR.MA/14974/2026                             ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




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. If he is released on bail,
possibility cannot be ruled out that the applicant will flee from
justice and tamper with the evidence. 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;


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      R/CR.MA/14974/2026                                ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




         (2)     Applicant is behind the bar since 18.05.2026;
         (3)     There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from
         the     applicant;
         (4)     The allegation against the present applicant is that
         he inflicted a knife blow on the victim. It appears that the
         victim is now out of danger and has been discharged from
         the hospital.
         (5)   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 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


                                   Page 3 of 5
   R/CR.MA/14974/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




released on regular bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No.
11210047261038 of 2026 registered with Udhana Police
Station,     Surat      City   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 Officer 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.


                                    Page 4 of 5
       R/CR.MA/14974/2026                                                 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




 [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)
 ALI




Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ISTAYAK ALI(HC01093), PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 06/07/2026 14:43:27




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