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High Court of Gujarat

VIPULGIRI @ GIRIBAPU GANESHGIRI GOSWAMIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

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 petitioner, Vipulgiri, applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with FIR No. 11213016260333 alleging offences under Sections 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 61(2) of the same Act. The petitioner claimed innocence, lack of prior record, and that a co‑accused had already been granted bail, seeking parity. The State opposed, alleging the petitioner impersonated the landowner and acted as a witness to a fraudulent sale deed. The Court examined bail principles, noting that the investigation was substantially complete, the offences did not carry life or death sentences, there was no risk of tampering, and the applicant had no antecedents. Relying on Supreme Court precedents and the constitutional guarantee of personal liberty, the Court concluded that bail was appropriate and ordered the petitioner released on regular bail with a personal bond and several conditions. The order also directed that any breach of conditions could lead to cancellation of bail.

Issues considered

  • Whether the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 BNSS given the nature of the alleged offences.
  • Whether the applicant poses a risk of tampering with evidence, absconding, or threatening witnesses.
  • Whether parity with a co‑accused already on bail warrants granting bail to the applicant.
  • Whether the offences are bailable and not punishable with life imprisonment or death.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailSection 483 BNSSpre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21paritydocumentary evidenceGujarat

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/15072/2026                                ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 15072 of 2026
==========================================================
               VIPULGIRI @ GIRIBAPU GANESHGIRI GOSWAMI
                                 Versus
                           STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR A A ZABUAWALA(6823) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
RAVIRAJ P THAKRAR(9634) 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. 11213016260333 of 2026 registered
with Gondal Taluka Police Station, Rajkot Rural, for the offences under
Sections 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 61(2) 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 has no past antecedent. Co-accused is granted
bail by the Sessions Court and on the ground of parity also, applicant may be
enlarged on bail. Allegation against the applicant is that, he has put his
signature in the sale deed as a witness and identified the accused as owner
of the land. 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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   R/CR.MA/15072/2026                                      ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




regular bail on the ground that though the applicant was very much within
the knowledge of owner of the land, he has wrongly impersonated the
owner of the land and stood as a witness in the sale deed of the land.
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 behind the bar since 01.05.2026;
      (4)     There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
              applicant;
      (5)     No past antecedent.
      (6)     Co-accused having similarly situated role is enlarged on
              regular bail and therefore, on the ground of parity also
              (Rameshbhai Batubhai Dhabi Vs. State of Gujarat reported in


                                    Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/15072/2026                                     ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




                  2011   (3)   GLR   1999),     present   application    deserves
                  consideration.
         (7)      Offence is triable by JMFC Court.
         (8)      Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take
                  its own time.
         (9)      Case is based on documentary evidence.
[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.
11213016260333 of 2026 registered with Gondal Taluka Police Station,
Rajkot Rural, 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



                                       Page 3 of 4
      R/CR.MA/15072/2026                                                        ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026




               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.
[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 06/07/2026 14:39:42

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