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High Court of Gujarat

ANOPSINH ABHESINH RATHODversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that, in the absence of any material showing the necessity of continued detention, the applicant is entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS.

Summary

The applicant sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 after a charge‑sheet was filed for offences under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and sections 111(2)(b), 111(4), 238 and 111(3) of the BNSS. The State opposed bail, arguing the applicant’s involvement and the gravity of the offence. The Court examined the completed investigation, the fact that the offence is triable by a JMFC and does not carry life or death penalty, the applicant’s presumption of innocence, and the parity with co‑accused who were granted bail. Citing Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI; Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor) and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, the Court found no justification for continued detention. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with a surety and imposed standard conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a charge‑sheet under Section 483 BNSS.
  • Whether the nature of the alleged offences and the applicant’s past antecedents preclude bail.
  • Whether parity with co‑accused who were released on bail warrants granting bail to the applicant.
  • Whether the prosecution has demonstrated a need to keep the accused in custody pending trial.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailcharge‑sheetSection 483 BNSSGujarat Prohibition Actpre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21bail jurisprudenceparity principle

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/16789/2026                                   ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 16789 of 2026

==========================================================
                         ANOPSINH AHESINH RATHOD
                                  Versus
                            STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR ND NANAVATY, Senior Advocate assisted by DARSHAN M
VARANDANI(7357) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS VRUNDA SHAH, APPfor the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                               Date : 22/07/2026
                                   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.11205044260089 of 2026 registered with Padhar Police
Station, Kachchh West Bhuj, for the offence under the
provisions of Gujarat Prohibition Act and Sections 111(2)(b),
111(4), 238 and 111(3) of BNS.

[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.



                                   Page 1 of 5
   R/CR.MA/16789/2026                          ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




[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 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:




                             Page 2 of 5
      R/CR.MA/16789/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




         (1)     Investigation is over and charge-sheet is filed;
         (2)     Applicant is behind the bar since 21.05.2026;
         (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)     Though the applicant is having past antecedent, he is
         presumed to be innocent till proven guilty;.
         (6)     Co-accused    having      similarly        situated      role        are
         enlarged on regular bail and therefore, on the ground of
         parity also (Rameshbhai Batubhai Dhabi Vs. State of
         Gujarat reported in 2011 (3) GLR 1999), present
         application deserves consideration.
         (7)     Prosecution has failed to point out the circumstances
         to continue or prolong his incarceration;
         (8)     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


                                   Page 3 of 5
   R/CR.MA/16789/2026                            ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




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
released on regular bail in connection with FIR being C.R.
No.11205044260089 of 2026 registered with Padhar Police
Station, Kachchh West Bhuj, 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



                                Page 4 of 5
      R/CR.MA/16789/2026                                                ORDER DATED: 22/07/2026




             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 Kachchh District for a period of six
             months except for marking presence before the
             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 22/07/2026 15:13:16
                                              Page 5 of 5


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