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High Court of Gujarat

SHABBIRBHAI @ BHURO MAHAMMADBHAI KHATRIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court granted regular bail to the applicant, finding that the circumstances warranted release on personal bond with conditions.

Summary

Shabbirbhai @ BhuRO Mahammadbhai Khatri applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, before a chargesheet was filed for offences under Sections 305(a), 331(3), 331(4) and 54 of the same Act. The applicant claimed innocence, no prior record, and pointed out that co‑accused had already been granted bail, arguing parity. The State opposed bail, contending the applicant’s involvement and the seriousness of the alleged offences. The Court examined the nature of the accusations, the stage of investigation, the absence of life or death penalty, the applicant’s clean record, and relevant Supreme Court precedents, and concluded that pre‑trial detention would amount to a de facto conviction. Accordingly, the Court allowed the bail application, ordering release on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with one surety and imposing several conditions, including surrender of passport and regular reporting to police.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 BNSS before the filing of a chargesheet for the offences alleged.
  • Whether the applicant’s lack of antecedents, the completion of substantial investigation, and parity with co‑accused justify bail.
  • Whether the nature and severity of the offences under Sections 305(a), 331(3), 331(4) and 54 BNSS preclude bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailpre‑trial detentionBNSSSection 483personal libertyArticle 21parity principlecriminal procedure

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/17900/2026                                ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 17900 of 2026
==========================================================
             SHABBIRBHAI @ BHURO MAHHAMADBHAI KHATRI
                               Versus
                         STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR.MRUDUL M BAROT(3750) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR HARDIK MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                              Date : 06/08/2026

                                   ORDER

[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. 11190002260711 of 2026 registered
with Botad Police Station, District Botad, for the o1ences under Sections
305(a), 331(3), 331(4) and 54 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 o1ence.
Substantial part of investigation is over. Nothing is required to be recovered
or discovered. The applicant has no past antecedent. Co-accused are
granted bail by the Sessions Court/this Court and on the ground of parity
also, applicant may be enlarged on bail. He therefore submits that,
considering the nature of the o1ence, 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 on the ground that the applicant is very much involved in the
present o1ence and considering the gravity of o1ence, no case is made out
to entertain present bail application. Chargesheet is yet to be "led.


                                  Page 1 of 4
   R/CR.MA/17900/2026                                      ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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 o1ence, 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)     None of the o1ence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
              death penalty ;
      (3)     Applicant is behind the bar since 08.06.2026;
      (4)     There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
              applicant;
      (5)     No past antecedent.
      (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)     O1ence is triable by JMFC Court.


                                    Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/17900/2026                                     ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




         (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 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.
11190002260711 of 2026 registered with Botad Police Station, District
Botad, 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/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;



                                       Page 3 of 4
     R/CR.MA/17900/2026                                                       ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




    (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 week
             till "ling of the chargesheet and after "ling of the chargesheet,
             mark presence before the concerned police station once in a
             month for a period of six months;
    (f)      furnish the Aadhaar card, email ID/present address of his
             residence to the Investigating OGcer 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 required in
connection with any other o1ence 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 inIuenced 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)

SUCHIT
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: PATEL SUCHIT JAYESHBHAI(HC01083), Private Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 06/08/2026 14:52:32



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