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High Court of Gujarat

RAHULPURI @ RAHUL SURESHPURI GOSWAMIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

Anticipatory bail is permissible under Section 482 of the BNSS when the offences are not punishable with life imprisonment or death and the applicant is unlikely to flee, subject to strict conditions.

Summary

The applicant sought anticipatory bail under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR alleging violations of Sections 65(e), 116‑B and 81 of the Prohibition Act. The State opposed bail, citing the nature and gravity of the offences. The court examined the standard bail factors—nature of the accusation, antecedents, flight risk, and potential misuse of the process—finding that the offences do not attract life imprisonment or death penalty and that the applicant assured cooperation and non‑flight. Relying on precedents such as Siddharam Mhetre, Sibbia and Sushila Aggarwal, the court granted anticipatory bail with a personal bond of Rs.10,000 and several conditions, including cooperation with investigation and restriction on travel. The order also clarified that the police retain full investigative powers and that any breach of conditions may invite arrest under Section 483(2) of the BNSS.

Issues considered

  • Whether anticipatory bail can be granted under Section 482 of the BNSS for offences under the Prohibition Act.
  • Whether the nature and gravity of the alleged offences justify denial of bail.
  • Whether the applicant poses a flight risk or risk of tampering with evidence.
  • Whether conditions can be imposed on the anticipatory bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

anticipatory bailSection 482BNSSProhibition Actbail conditionscriminal procedureGujarat

Judgment

     R/CR.MA/16737/2026                                        ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




             IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 16737
                           of 2026

==========================================================
                RAHULPURI @ RAHUL SURESHPURI GOSWAMI
                                Versus
                          STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR PUNAM G GADHVI(3724) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS KRUSHANGI R JOSHI(11717) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR. TIRTHRAJ PANDYA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER

                                 Date : 22/07/2026

                                  ORAL ORDER


1.      By way of this application under Section 482 of the

Bharatiya         Nagarik      Suraksha          Sanhita,      2023      (for     short,
“BNSS”), the applicant has prayed for anticipatory bail in the
event of arrest in connection with the FIR being C.R. No.

11191024260688            of    2026,      registered       with      Ramol       Police

Station, District: Ahmedabad City for the offences punishable

under Sections 65(e), 116-B, 81 of the Prohibition Act.

2.      Rule.         Learned     Additional          Public   Prosecutor        waives

service of notice of rule for respondent – State of Gujarat.

3.      Learned advocate for the applicant submits that the

nature of allegations are such that custodial interrogation at

this stage is not necessary. It is further submitted that the

applicant will keep himself available during the course of



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      R/CR.MA/16737/2026                                           ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




investigation and trial also and will not flee from justice.

3.1      The learned advocate for the applicant further states

that the applicant shall abide by all the conditions that may

be imposed while granting anticipatory bail to the applicant.

Accordingly, it is urged that this application may be allowed

and to grant the anticipatory bail to the applicant.

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

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



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      R/CR.MA/16737/2026                                         ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




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)       the offences are not punishable under life imprisonment

or death penalty.


b)       the learned advocate for the applicant has assured that

the     applicant          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

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 applicant in




                                          Page 3 of 5
   R/CR.MA/16737/2026                                          ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




connection with the above-referred FIR, the applicant shall be

released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs.10,000/-

(Rupees Ten Thousand) with one surety of like amount on

the following conditions that applicant:



      (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;

      (d)     shall      remain    present         at    the      concerned       Police

      Station on 29.07.2026, 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



                                     Page 4 of 5
      R/CR.MA/16737/2026                                                  ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




         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.

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 applicant who is granted pre-arrest bail.


9.       Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct

service is permitted.



                                                                       (SANJEEV J.THAKER,J)
ADITYA SINGH


 Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
 Digitally signed by: ADITYA SINGH(HC02376), ENGLISH STENO GRADE-II\, at High Court of Gujarat on 22/07/2026 16:04:49




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