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High Court of Gujarat

ANKIT S/O NARENDRABHAI DALPATRAM RAMAWAT (BAVAJI)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, as the offences are non‑capital, the investigation is substantially complete, and there is no material risk of tampering or absconding.

Summary

The applicant, Ankit, filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR alleging violations of the Gujarat Prohibition Act. The State opposed bail, arguing the applicant's involvement and the gravity of the offences. The court examined bail principles, considering the nature of the accusation, the stage of investigation, the non‑capital nature of the offences, and the risk of tampering or absconding. Citing Supreme Court decisions in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor, the court emphasized that bail is the rule and pre‑trial detention is the exception. Finding no substantial risk and noting that the investigation was largely complete, the court granted regular bail with a personal bond and several conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, for offences under the Gujarat Prohibition Act before the chargesheet is filed.
  • Whether the nature and severity of the alleged offences justify denial of bail.
  • Whether the applicant poses a risk of tampering with evidence, influencing witnesses, or absconding.
  • How the precedents set by Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor apply to the present bail application.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailpre‑trial detentionGujarat Prohibition ActBNSS 2023bail jurisprudencepersonal libertyArticle 21bail conditions

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/15302/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 07/07/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 15302 of 2026

==========================================================
      ANKIT S/O NARENDRABHAI DALPATRAM RAMWAT (BAVAJI)
                            Versus
                      STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR N R DESAI(6504) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR HARDIK MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                              Date : 07/07/2026

                                  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.11195050250041 of 2025 registered with Tharad Police
Station, Vav-Tharad, for the offence under Sections 65(a)(e),
116(b), 98(2), 81 and 99 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. 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


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   R/CR.MA/15302/2026                             ORDER DATED: 07/07/2026




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. 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)     Applicant is behind the bar since 17.06.2026;


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      R/CR.MA/15302/2026                                ORDER DATED: 07/07/2026




         (3)     There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from
         the applicant;
         (4)     Offence is triable by JMFC Court and             none of the
         offence alleged is punishable with life sentence or death
         penalty;
         (5)     The allegation against the applicant is that he was
         supplier.
         (6)     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



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   R/CR.MA/15302/2026                                      ORDER DATED: 07/07/2026




released      on        regular    bail       in     connection      with       C.R.
No.11195050250041 of 2025 registered with Tharad Police
Station,     Vav-Tharad,          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 every month for a period of six months between 11.00
           a.m. and 2.00 p.m.;
  (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.
  (h)      not to enter into Banaskantha and Morbi Districts for a period
           of six months except for marking presence before the



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           R/CR.MA/15302/2026                                                ORDER DATED: 07/07/2026




                  concerned police station and/or for attending Court;



     [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 08/07/2026 11:49:27




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