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High Court of Gujarat

FEROJBHAI @ FIROJBHAI USMANBHAI VORAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that the applicants are entitled to regular bail, as the offences are not capital in nature, the investigation is substantially complete, and bail jurisprudence favors liberty pending trial.

Summary

The applicants, Ferojbhai Usmanbhai Vora and another, sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with a FIR alleging possession of 960 bottles of IMFL under Sections 65(e), 98(2), 116‑B and 81 of the Prohibition Act. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offence, while the applicants contended innocence and that the investigation was largely complete. The Court examined statutory bail factors, noted that the offences are triable by a magistrate and do not carry life or death sentences, and considered the applicants’ prior antecedents. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the Court emphasized the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, and the right to liberty under Article 21. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail with a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and a series of conditions, directing the applicants to comply with reporting and residence requirements.

Issues considered

  • Whether the applicants are entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 despite the nature of the offences under the Prohibition Act.
  • Whether the seriousness of the alleged possession of IMFL and the applicants’ prior antecedents justify denial of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailSection 483 BNSSProhibition Actpre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21bail conditions

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/15984/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 14/07/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 15984 of 2026
==========================================================
        FEROJBHAI @ FIROJBHAI USMANBHAI VORA & ANR.
                               Versus
                       STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR KISHAN K NAYI(13080) for the applicants(s) No. 1,2
MR KRUTIK PARIKH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 14/07/2026
                                  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.11821011261142 of 2026 registered with
‘A’ Division Police Station, District Dahod for the offences under Sections
65(e), 98(2), 116-B and 81 of the Prohibition Act.

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicants submits that
applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the offence and
now nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. He therefore
submits that, considering the nature of the offence, the applicants 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 regular bail looking to the nature and gravity of the offence.

[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


                                   Page 1 of 4
      R/CR.MA/15984/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 14/07/2026




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)       The allegation is that applicants are found in conscious possession
          of 960 bottles of IMFL worth Rs.1,22,880/- which has already been
          recovered and substantial part of investigation is over;

(2)       None of the offence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
          death penalty and is triable by the Court of Magistrate;

(3)       Applicants are behind the bars since 23.06.2026;

(4)       There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicants;

(5)       The applicant No.1 is having three past antecedents and applicant
          No.2 is having one antecedents however, they are governed by the
          presumption of innocence unless proven guilty;

(6)       Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some
          time.




                                    Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/15984/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 14/07/2026




[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 applicants 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 applicants on regular bail.
Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicants are ordered to be
released     on    regular   bail   in   connection     with   FIR    being         C.R.
No.11821011261142 of 2026 registered with ‘A’ Division Police Station,
District Dahod on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees
Twenty-five Thousand only) each with one surety of the like amount to the
satisfaction of the trial Court and subject to the conditions that they 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
            month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00
            p.m.;




                                     Page 3 of 4
    R/CR.MA/15984/2026                                                           ORDER DATED: 14/07/2026




      (f)      furnish the UIDAI Number, Contact Number/s, Passport Number
               (if they are having the passport), E-mail address and present
               address of their residence to the Investigating Officer and also to
               the Court at the time of execution of the bond and shall not
               change the residence without prior permission of Trial Court;

      (h)      not to indulge in any illegal activity or any similar type of offence
               failing which concerned Investigating Officer shall have liberty to
               file an application for cancellation of bail against the present
               applicants;

      (i)      not to enter District Dahod for a period of THREE MONTHS
               except for marking presence before the concerned police
               station and/or for attending the court proceedings.


[9.0] The authorities will release the applicants only if they are 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 applicants on bail.

[12.0]             Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is
permitted.



                                                                      (HASMUKH D. SUTHAR, J.)
Ajay
 Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
 Digitally signed by: AJAY CHANDRAN MENON(HC00939), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 14/07/2026 16:10:05




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