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High Court of Gujarat

SUNILBHAI DINESHBHAI MAVIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that the applicant is entitled to regular bail and granted it subject to conditions.

Summary

The applicant sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for offences alleged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the POCSO Act. The victim's statement indicated a consensual relationship with the applicant, who is 18 years old, and the investigation was complete with a charge‑sheet filed. The applicant had been in custody since 17‑12‑2025, had no prior criminal record, and there was no material to be recovered from him. The Court considered the nature of the allegations, the lack of risk of tampering, and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, citing Supreme Court precedents. Accordingly, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond with several conditions, directing the trial court to enforce them.

Issues considered

  • Whether the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS given the nature of offences under the BNS and POCSO Act
  • Whether the consensual nature of the alleged relationship and the applicant's lack of antecedents justify bail

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailSection 483 BNSSBharatiya Nyaya SanhitaPOCSO Actpre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21consensual relationshipminor

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/16042/2026                                ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 16042 of 2026
==========================================================
                   SUNILBHAI DINESHBHAI MAVI
                              Versus
                    STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR JAYDEEP H SINDHI(9585) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
NOTICE SERVED for the Respondent(s) No. 2
MR KANVA ANTANI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 14/08/2026
                                 ORDER
       Though served, none appears for respondent No.2.

[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-State.

[2.0] The present application is :led under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) for regular bail in
connection with FIR being C.R. No.11821033251933 of 2025 registered with
Limdi Police Station, District Dahod for the oBences punishable under
Sections 137(2), 87, 64(2)(M) and 65(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
(for short “BNS”) and sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act.

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


                                  Page 1 of 4
      R/CR.MA/16042/2026                                   ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
accused in the alleged oBence, 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)       Perusing the statement of victim recorded under Section 183 of the
          BNSS, it appears that the victim eloped with the applicant and
          stayed at diBerent places and hence, it appears that present is a
          case of consensual relationship between the victim and applicant,
          who is only aged 18 years and even otherwise, investigation is over
          and charge-sheet is :led;

(2)       Applicant is behind the bars since 17.12.2025;

(3)       There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;

(4)       The applicant is not having any past antecedent ;

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

[7.0] This Court has also taken into consideration the law laid down by the


                                      Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/16042/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




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 :t
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.11821033251933 of 2025 registered with Limdi Police Station, District
Dahod on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-:ve
Thousand only) with ONE SURETY of the like amount to the satisfaction of
the trial Court and subject to the conditions that he 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 territory of 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.;

     (f)    furnish the copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
            permanent and present address of his residence to the


                                     Page 3 of 4
    R/CR.MA/16042/2026                                                          ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




              Investigating OMcer and also to the Court at the time of
              execution of the bond and shall not change the residence and
              contact number/SIM card 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 oBence 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 inNuenced 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.)
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 14/08/2026 16:36:58




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