PREETIBEN KEVALRAM VAGHVANIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

     R/CR.MA/18310/2026                                     ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




             IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 18310
                           of 2026

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                          PREETIBEN KEVALRAM VAGHVANI
                                      Versus
                                STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR JIGAR I SALVI(13796) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR RONAK RAVAL, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER

                                 Date : 06/08/2026

                                  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.

11189003261336 of 2026, registered with `A’ Division Police
Station, Morbi City, Morbi for the offences punishable under

Sections 318(4) and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.



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



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      R/CR.MA/18310/2026                                           ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




applicant will keep himself available during the course of

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



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      R/CR.MA/18310/2026                                             ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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

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)       it is stated that the applicant has acted as a marriage

facilitator;

b)       the applicant has no past antecedents;

c)       the     offences         alleged     are         not     punishable      with         life

imprisonment;

d)       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



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     R/CR.MA/18310/2026                                           ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




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

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 13.08.2026 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



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         R/CR.MA/18310/2026                                                                   ORDER DATED: 06/08/2026




              disposal of the case till further orders;

              (f)        shall not leave India without the permission of the

              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)
   SRILATHA

Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: SRILATHA VENKATARAO UPADHYAYULA(HC00185), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 06/08/2026 15:03:15




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