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High Court of Gujarat

FAIZAL YUNUSBHAI THASARIYAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that regular bail should be granted as the offences do not merit life or death penalty, the investigation is largely complete, and the principles of personal liberty under Article 21 prevail.

Summary

The petitioner, Faizal Yunusbhai Thasariya, was arrested for allegedly transporting 264 bottles of prohibited liquor, an offence under Sections 65(a), 65(e), 116‑B and 98(2) of the Prohibition Act, and filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, before the chargesheet was filed. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offence. The Court examined bail jurisprudence, noting that the alleged offences do not attract life imprisonment or death penalty, that most of the investigation is complete, and that the applicant has been in custody since 19‑07‑2026. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the Court emphasized the presumption of innocence and the principle that bail is the rule, jail the exception. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with one surety and imposed several conditions, directing the applicant to surrender passport, report regularly to police, and refrain from illegal activity.

Issues considered

  • Whether regular bail can be granted under Section 483 BNSS 2023 before the filing of a chargesheet for offences under the Prohibition Act.
  • Whether the nature and gravity of the alleged liquor‑trafficking offence justify denial of bail.
  • Whether the applicant's past antecedents preclude the grant of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailpre‑chargesheet bailProhibition Actpersonal libertySection 483 BNSSGujarat criminal procedurebail jurisprudence

Judgment

    R/CR.MA/18968/2026                                 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
                CHARGESHEET) NO. 18968 of 2026
==========================================================
                  FAIZAL YUNUSBHAI THASARIYA
                               Versus
                         STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR JIMIT P SHAH(9917) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS DJ PATEL(16464) 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.11213026260294 of 2026 registered with
Kotda Sangani Police Station, Rajkot Rural for the oCences under
Sections 65(a), 65(e), 116-B and 98(2) of the Prohibition Act.

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the oCence and now
nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. He therefore submits
that, considering the nature of the oCence, 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 oCence.

[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
accused in the alleged oCence, the jurisdiction to grant bail has to be


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      R/CR.MA/18968/2026                                   ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




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 against the applicant is found transporting prohibited
          liquor i.e. 264 bottles which has already been recovered and even
          otherwise, substantial part of investigation is over;

(2)       None of the oCence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
          death penalty and is triable by the Court of Magistrate;

(3)       Applicant is behind the bars since 19.07.2026;

(4)       There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;

(5)       Though the applicant is having past antecedents, he is presumed
          to be innocent till proven guilty;

(6)       Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some
          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


                                     Page 2 of 4
    R/CR.MA/18968/2026                                    ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




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.11213026260294 of 2026 registered with Kotda Sangani Police
Station, Rajkot Rural 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 @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 copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /


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    R/CR.MA/18968/2026                                                           ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026




               permanent and present address of his residence to the
               Investigating ONcer 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.

      (h)      not to enter District Rajkot for a period of SIX MONTHS
               except for marking presence before the concerned police
               station and/or for attending the court proceedings.


[9.0] The authorities will release the applicant only if he is not required in
connection with any other oCence 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 inOuenced 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 14/08/2026 14:52:07




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