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High Court of Gujarat

VIJAYBHAI @ VELABHAI MAHARAJBHAI PARMAR (VIJAYBHAI @ VELABHAI MARAJBHAI PARMAR)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

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

Summary

The petitioner Vijaybhai @ Velabhai Maharajbhai Parmar applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in connection with an FIR alleging violations of Sections 11(1)(d), (e) and (f) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for transporting cow calves without adequate food and water. The State opposed the bail, alleging the petitioner’s involvement in transporting the animals for slaughter and citing two prior similar antecedents. The Court examined the standard bail factors, noting that the investigation was substantially complete, the offences do not attract life imprisonment or death, and there was no risk of evidence tampering or flight. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the Court emphasized the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, and that personal liberty under Article 21 must be protected. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with a surety and imposed several conditions, including monthly police reporting and restrictions on travel.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 BNSS for offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
  • Whether the nature of the alleged animal‑cruelty offences and the petitioner’s prior antecedents preclude bail.
  • Whether the risk of witness tampering, flight, or obstruction of investigation justifies continued pre‑trial detention.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailSection 483 BNSSPrevention of Cruelty to Animals Actpersonal libertyArticle 21pre‑trial detentionbail jurisprudence

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/18953/2026                                ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




            IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 18953 of 2026
==========================================================
    VIJAYBHAI @ VELABHAI MAHARAJBHAI PARMAR (VIJAYBHAI @
                 VELABHAI MARAJBHAI PARMAR)
                            Versus
                      STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR S D MOGHARIYA(11273) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR KANVA ANTANI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
  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. 11211035260259 of 2026 registered
with Muli Police Station, Surendranagar, for the o1ences under Sections
11(1)(d), 11(1)9e) and 11(1)(f) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 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. Allegation against the applicant is that, without providing
adequate food and water, he was transporting four cow calf. 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 transporting for slaughter purpose. Further he has past
two antecedents of similar nature. Therefore, present application does not


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      R/CR.MA/18953/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




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 10.07.2026;
(4)      There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(5)      Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take
         its own time.
(6)      Applicant is transporting cow calfs in vehicle.         Allegation of
         slaughtering is not there.
[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



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      R/CR.MA/18953/2026                                      ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




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.
11211035260259             of   2026   registered     with   Muli   Police     Station,
Surendranagar 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;
(e)      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.



                                        Page 3 of 4
           R/CR.MA/18953/2026                                                        ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




     (h)       not to enter into Surendranagar District for a period of six months
     except for marking presence before the concerned police station and/or
     for attending Court;

     [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 14/08/2026 15:58:12

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