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High Court of Gujarat

MEENA RAJIV UDAYLALversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail and allowed the bail application.

Summary

The High Court of Gujarat considered a regular bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 by Meena Rajiv Udaylal, accused of transporting 1,691 bottles/tins of contraband liquor under Sections 65(a)(e) and 81 of the Gujarat Prohibition Act. The applicant claimed innocence and that no material needed to be recovered, while the State opposed bail citing seriousness of the offence. The Court examined established bail principles, including nature of accusation, risk of witness tampering, likelihood of absconding, and the applicant’s conduct, noting that the offence is triable by a JMFC Court and does not carry life or death penalty. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v Public Prosecutor), the Court emphasized the presumption of liberty under Article 21 and the view that bail is the rule, jail the exception. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with several conditions, and warned that breach could lead to cancellation of bail.

Issues considered

  • Whether the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 given the nature of the alleged offences
  • Whether the seriousness of the offences under the Gujarat Prohibition Act warrants denial of bail
  • Whether pre‑trial detention would violate the principle of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailSection 483 BNSSGujarat Prohibition Actcontraband liquorpersonal libertyArticle 21pre‑trial detentionbail jurisprudence

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/15801/2026                                       ORDER DATED: 13/07/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 15801 of 2026

==========================================================
                              MEENA RAJIV UDAYLAL
                                     Versus
                               STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR VISHVAJITSINH D CHAUHAN(10160) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR.KISHAN PRAJAPATI(7074) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS SHRUTI PATHAK, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                                  Date : 13/07/2026
                                      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.
11188005250350               of   2025     registered       with    Isari     Police
Station, Aravalli for the offences under Sections 65(a)(e), and
81 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/15801/2026                             ORDER DATED: 13/07/2026




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 18.06.2026;


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      R/CR.MA/15801/2026                                ORDER DATED: 13/07/2026




         (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 allegations against the present applicant are that
         he transported 1,691 bottles/tins of contraband liquor.
         (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/15801/2026                             ORDER DATED: 13/07/2026




released on regular bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No.
11188005250350          of   2025    registered   with    Isari     Police
Station, Aravalli 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/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.


[9.0] The authorities will release the applicant only if he is not


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        R/CR.MA/15801/2026                                                 ORDER DATED: 13/07/2026




  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 13/07/2026 14:28:21




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