PRASHANT VINODBHAI JAGDISHPRASAD SHARMAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

    R/CR.MA/18336/2026                                ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 18336 of 2026
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              PRASHANT VINODBHAI JAGDISHPRASAD SHARMA
                                Versus
                          STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
DINESHKUMAR D GAUTAM(9549) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS VRUNDA SHAH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                             Date : 07/08/2026

                                  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.11191033260349 of 2026 registered
with Meghaninagar Police Station, Ahmedabad City for the o1ences
under Sections 8(C), 21(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act.

[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 is granted
bail by 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.


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   R/CR.MA/18336/2026                                      ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




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 20.06.2026;
      (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)     Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take


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    R/CR.MA/18336/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




               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.11191033260349 of 2026 registered with Meghaninagar Police
Station, Ahmedabad City 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;
   (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;


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     R/CR.MA/18336/2026                                                       ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026




    (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 07/08/2026 14:30:27
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