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High Court of Gujarat

MANJURUL S/O MONAF MANDALversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that regular bail should be granted to the applicant under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, subject to conditions.

Summary

Manjurul was arrested on 8 July 2026 in connection with an FIR (C.R. No. 11200051260400) alleging offences under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii) and 29 of the NDPS Act. He applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, claiming innocence and no material recovered from his possession. The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the narcotics charges and risk of re‑offending. The Court examined the completed investigation, the non‑commercial quantity involved, the applicant’s clean antecedent, and the principles laid down in Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor, emphasizing the presumption of liberty under Article 21. Finding that the factors favoured bail and that continued pre‑trial detention would amount to a de facto conviction, the Court granted regular bail with a personal bond and several conditions.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 for offences under the NDPS Act.
  • Whether the nature and quantity of the alleged narcotics, and the risk of tampering or re‑offending, preclude bail.
  • Whether the applicant’s clean antecedent and lack of material possession justify bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailNDPS ActSection 483 BNSSpre‑trial detentionpersonal libertyArticle 21Gujarat High Court

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/17995/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 17995 of 2026

==========================================================
                         MANJURUL S/O MONAF MANDAL
                                   Versus
                             STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
VASIMRAJA A KURESHI(8609) 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. 11200051260400 of 2026 registered
with Dungra Police Station, Dist. Valsad, for the o.ence under Sections
8(c), 20(b)(ii) and 29 of NDPS Act.

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the o.ence.
Substantial part of investigation is over. Allegation against the applicant is
that, he has facilitated the co-accused. It is submitted that, nothing is
recovered from the conscious possession of the applicant. He therefore
submits that, considering the nature of the o.ence, 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 submitted that, the applicant is facing
serious charges and involved in tra4cking of narcotic drugs. Therefore, it is
very much establishes that the applicant is involved in the o.ence and if he
is granted bail, possibility cannot be ruled out to indulge himself in such


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      R/CR.MA/17995/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




type of o.ence again. Considering the gravity of o.ence, application does
not deserve any consideration.

[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
accused in the alleged o.ence, 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)       Investigation is over and chargesheet has been led;
(2)       Applicant is behind the bar since 08.07.2026;
(3)       There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(4)       There is no possibility to conclude the trial in near future.
(5)        Having no past antecedent.
(6)         Recovered quantity is not commercial quantity and therefore,
         rigors of Section 37 would not be applicable.

[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


                                      Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/17995/2026                                   ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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.
11200051260400 of 2026 registered with Dungra Police Station, Dist.
Valsad on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees twenty                  ve
thousand) with one local 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 to leave India till trial is over, 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 Aadhar card, email ID/present address of his
            residence to the Investigating O4cer and also to the Court at
            the time of execution of the bond and shall not change the
            residence/contact number, SIM number without prior permission



                                     Page 3 of 4
        R/CR.MA/17995/2026                                                            ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




                   of Trial Court;
         (g)       if the applicant is found to be indulged in any illegal activities in
                   future, the trial Court concerned will be free to issue warrant and
                   cancel the bail granted to the applicant.

  [9.0] The authorities will release the applicant only if he is not required in
  connection with any other o.ence 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 inGuenced 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),  Page Private
                                                               4 of 4 Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 06/08/2026 14:57:44


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