BABUBHAI DEVKARANBHAI NOGOS (RABARI)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- SANJEEV THAKER
Holding
The High Court allowed the anticipatory bail application, directing release on bond with specified conditions.
Summary
The applicants, Babubhai Devkaranbhai Nogos (Rabari) and an associate, filed an anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR alleging offences under Sections 111(2)(b), 318(4) and 54 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita. They contended that they were merely brokers receiving a 2% commission and posed no flight risk, offering to cooperate fully with the investigation. The State, represented by the Additional Public Prosecutor, opposed bail on the ground of the seriousness of the charges. The Court, applying principles from Supreme Court precedents, considered the nature of the allegations, the applicants' role, and their assurances, and concluded that anticipatory bail was appropriate. Accordingly, the Court granted anticipatory bail subject to a personal bond of Rs.10,000 with a surety and a series of conditions, while preserving the police's right to seek arrest for any breach.
Issues considered
- What is the appropriate exercise of discretion under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 in granting anticipatory bail for offences under Sections 111(2)(b), 318(4) and 54 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita?
- Do the applicants' role as brokers and their assurances mitigate the gravity of the accusations sufficiently to warrant bail?
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 482, s. 483(2)
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/15091/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 15091
of 2026
==========================================================
BABUBHAI DEVKARANBHAI NOGOS (RABARI) & ANR.
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR N R DESAI(6504) for the Applicant(s) No. 1,2
MR TIRTHRAJ PANDYA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER
Date : 06/07/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. By way of this application under Section 482 of the
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ( for short,
“BNSS”), the applicants have prayed for anticipatory bail in
the event of arrest in connection with the FIR being C.R.
No.11195061260467 of 2026, registered with Dantiwada Police
Station, District: Banaskantha for the offences punishable
under Sections 111(2)(b), 318(4) and 54 of the Bhartiya Nyay
Sanhita.
2. Rule. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor waives
service of notice of rule for respondent – State of Gujarat.
3. Learned advocate for the applicants submits that the
nature of allegations are such that custodial interrogation at
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this stage is not necessary. It is further submitted that the
applicants will keep themselves available during the course of
investigation and trial also and will not flee from justice.
3.1 The learned advocate for the applicants further states
that the applicants shall abide by all the conditions that may
be imposed while granting anticipatory bail to the applicants.
Accordingly, it is urged that this application may be allowed
and to grant the anticipatory bail to the applicants.
4. As against this, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor
appearing on behalf of the respondent – State has opposed
grant of anticipatory bail looking to the nature and gravity of
the offence and requested not to entertain this application.
5. Having heard the learned advocates appearing for the
parties and perusing the papers available on record, it is
incumbent upon the Court to exercise its discretion
judiciously, cautiously and strictly in compliance with the
basic principles laid down in plethora of decisions of the
Apex Court on the point. It is well settled that, among other
circumstances, the factors to be borne in mind while
considering an application for bail are (i) the nature and
gravity of the accusation; (ii) the antecedents of the applicant
including the fact as to whether he has previously undergone
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R/CR.MA/15091/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026
imprisonment on conviction by a Court in respect of any
cognizable offence; (iii) the possibility of the applicant to flee
from justice; and (iv) where the accusation has been made
with the object of injuring or humiliating the applicant by
having him so arrested. Though at the stage of granting bail
an elaborate examination of evidence and detailed reasons
touching the merits of the case, which may prejudice the
case of accused, should be avoided. However, prima facie,
following aspects have been taken into consideration:
a) that the present applicants are not the owner of the
property;
b) the role played by the present applicants is only of broker
and the complainant, in the FIR, has stated that the
applicants were to get 2% towards commission on the said
transaction;
c) the learned advocate for the applicants has assured that
the applicants will not flee from justice and would be
available during investigation as well as the trial.
6. Considering the aforesaid aspects and the law laid down
by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Siddharam
Satlingappa Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra and Others,
reported in (2011) 1 SCC 6941, wherein the Hon’ble Apex
Court reiterated the law laid down by the Constitution Bench
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R/CR.MA/15091/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026
in the case of Shri Gurubaksh Singh Sibbia & Others,
reported in (1980) 2 SCC 665 and also the decision in the
case of Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi), reported in
(2020) 5 SCC 1, the Court is inclined to allow the present
application.
7. In the result, this application is allowed by directing
that in the event of arrest/ appearance of the applicants in
connection with the above-referred FIR, the applicants shall
be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of
Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) each with one surety of
like amount each on the following conditions that applicants:
(a) shall cooperate with the investigation and make
available for interrogation whenever required;
(b) shall not directly or indirectly make any
inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted
with the fact of the case so as to dissuade him from
disclosing such facts to the court or to any police
officer;
(c) shall not obstruct or hamper the police
investigation and not to play mischief with the evidence
collected or yet to be collected by the police;
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(d) shall remain present at the concerned Police
Station on 13.07.2026 between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.;
(e) shall at the time of execution of bond, furnish the
address to the investigating officer and the court
concerned and shall not change residence till the final
disposal of the case till further orders;
(f) shall not leave India without the permission of the
Court and if having passport shall deposit the same
before the trial Court within a week;
(g) It is open to the police or the investigating agency
to move the learned trial Court for a direction under
Section 483(2) of the BNSS to arrest the accused, in
the event of violation of any term, such as absconding,
non-cooperating during investigation, evasion,
intimidation or inducement to witnesses with a view to
influence outcome of the investigation or trial, etc.
7.1 At the trial, the Trial Court shall not be influenced by
the prima facie observations made by this Court while
considering the bail application.
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R/CR.MA/15091/2026 ORDER DATED: 06/07/2026
8. It is made clear that this order of anticipatory bail does
not in any manner limit or restrict the rights or duties of
the police or investigative agency to investigate into the
charges against the applicants who are granted pre-arrest
bail.
9. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct
service is permitted.
(SANJEEV J.THAKER,J)
URIL RANA
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: RANA URIL K(HC01406), PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 06/07/2026 15:22:31
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