PRABINDKUMAR DHARAMSHILLA @NANKURAY YADAVversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The Court granted regular bail to the applicant, subject to a personal bond and specified conditions.
Summary
The applicant, Prabindkumar Dharmashilla, was arrested for alleged possession of 2.001 kg of ganja, invoking Sections 8(C), 20(b)(ii)B and 29 of the NDPS Act. He filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, claiming innocence and no risk of tampering or absconding. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the drug offence. The Court examined factors such as the intermediate quantity of the contraband, absence of life or death penalty, lack of prior criminal record, and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the Court held that the applicant was entitled to regular bail, subject to a personal bond and several conditions, and ordered his release.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS 2023 should be granted to an accused charged with possession of an intermediate quantity of narcotics under the NDPS Act.
- Whether the nature of the offence, risk of witness tampering, and possibility of absconding justify denial of bail.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 483
- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Acts. 20(b)(ii)B, s. 29, s. 8(C)
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/18367/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 18367 of 2026
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PRABINDKUMAR DHARAMSHILLA @NANKURAY YADAV
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR HARDIK H DAVE(6295) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR VISHAL B VINCHI(19210) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR ADITYA JADEJA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
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.11200048261775 of 2026 registered with
Vapi Town Police Station, District Valsad for the oDences under Sections
8(C), 20(b)(ii)B and 29 of the NDPS Act.
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the oDence and now
nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. He therefore submits
that, considering the nature of the oDence, 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 looking to the nature and gravity of the oDence.
[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
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R/CR.MA/18367/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026
accused in the alleged oDence, 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) The allegation is that the applicant is found in conscious possession
of contraband Ganja weighing 2.001 Kg which is intermediate
quantity and would not attract rigors of section 37 of the NDPS Act
and even otherwise muddamal contraband is seized and substantial
part of investigation is over;
(2) None of the oDence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
death penalty;
(3) Applicant is behind the bars since 22.06.2026;
(4) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(5) The applicant is not having any past antecedent ;
(6) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some
time;
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R/CR.MA/18367/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026
[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.11200048261775 of 2026 registered with Vapi Town Police Station,
District Valsad 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 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 territory of State of Gujarat without prior
permission of the Trial Court concerned;
(e) mark presence before the concerned Police Station once in a
week till Cling of the chargesheet and after Cling of the
chargesheet, mark presence before the concerned police
station once in a month for a period of six months;
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R/CR.MA/18367/2026 ORDER DATED: 07/08/2026
(f) furnish the copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
permanent and present address of his residence to the
Investigating OOcer and also to the Court at the time of
execution of the bond and shall not change the residence and
contact number/SIM card 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 oDence 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 inPuenced 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.)
Ajay
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: AJAY CHANDRAN MENON(HC00939), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 07/08/2026 14:37:07
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