SUNILKUMAR S/O SHANKARBHAI NATUBHAI PATELversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

    R/CR.MA/18947/2026                                ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 18947 of 2026
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            SUNILKUMAR S/O SHANKARBHAI NATUBHAI PATEL
                              Versus
                        STATE OF GUJARAT
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Appearance:
MR PRAMODKUMAR C GEHLOT(13266) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR KANVA ANTANI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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  CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                              Date : 14/08/2026

                               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. 11200011260533 of 2026 registered
with Valsad Rural Police Station, Dist. Valsad, for the o.ence under
Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)B 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.
Investigation is almost over. Allegation against the applicant is that, at the
behest of the applicant, alleged contraband was supplied by the co-accused.
It is submitted that, nothing is recovered from the conscious possession of
the applicant. He has no past antecedent. 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 Ganja. 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


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      R/CR.MA/18947/2026                                  ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




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 almost over ;
(2)       Applicant is behind the bar since 28.07.2026;
(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)        No past antecedent.
(6)         Allegation against the applicant is that, at the behest of the
         applicant, contraband Ganja was supplied by the co-accused. Nothing
         is found from conscious possession of the applicant.
(7)      Recovered quantity found from co-accused is not commercial
         quantity and therefore, rigors of Section 37 would not be applicable.
(8)      Co-accused from whose possession contraband Ganja was found is
         enlarged on bail by this Court 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.
[7.0] This Court has also taken into consideration the law laid down by the


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    R/CR.MA/18947/2026                                     ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




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.
11200011260533 of 2026 registered with Valsad Rural Police Station,
Dist. Valsad on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees twenty
 ve thousand) 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 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;



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          R/CR.MA/18947/2026                                                       ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




           (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
                    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 inHuenced 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 14/08/2026 15:59:40



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