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High Court of Gujarat

GIGABHAI MOHANBHAI DODIYA (KOLI)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT

Disposal
38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

Holding

The Court held that, on the facts, the applicants are entitled to regular bail and ordered their release subject to conditions.

Summary

The applicants, two 19‑year‑old accused, sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for offences including assault and other serious charges under the BNS and the Gujarat Police Act. They had been in custody since 18 July 2026, with the investigation largely completed and no material to be recovered from them. The State opposed bail, citing the gravity of the offences, but the Court applied established bail principles, considering factors such as the nature of the accusation, risk of witness tampering, likelihood of absconding, and the applicants' clean antecedent. Citing Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the Court held that continued detention would amount to pre‑trial punishment. Consequently, the Court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with a local surety and imposed several conditions, including monthly police reporting and surrender of passport.

Issues considered

  • Whether the accused are entitled to regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS 2023 before the filing of a chargesheet despite the seriousness of the offences.
  • Whether the risk of witness tampering, absconding, or obstruction of investigation justifies denial of bail.
  • Whether the stage of investigation and the applicants' personal circumstances warrant the grant of bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

regular bailpre‑trial detentionBharatiya Nagarik Suraksha SanhitaGujarat Police Actassaultbail jurisprudenceArticle 21personal liberty

Judgment

   R/CR.MA/19015/2026                                       ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




           IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

   R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
               CHARGESHEET) NO. 19015 of 2026

==========================================================
               GIGABHAI MOHANBHAI DODIYA (KOLI) & ANR.
                               Versus
                         STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR PRAVIN GONDALIYA(1974) for the Applicant(s) No. 1,2
MR KRUTIK PARIKH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================

 CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR

                                  Date : 17/08/2026

                                      ORDER


[1.0] RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the
respondent-State.

[2.0] The present application is filed under Section 483 of the
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) for
regular     bail        in   connection     with      FIR    being      C.R.      No.
11186008261130               of   2026     registered       with     Una      Police
Station, Gir-Somnath for the offences under Sections 109(1),
115(2), 117(2), 117(3), 118(1), 352, 351(3), 324(2) and 54 of the
BNS and Section 135 of the GP Act.

[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicants
submits that the applicants are innocent and has been falsely
implicated in the offence. Nothing is required to be recovered or
discovered. He therefore submits that, considering the nature of
the offence, the applicants may be enlarged on regular bail by
imposing suitable conditions.



                                      Page 1 of 5
   R/CR.MA/19015/2026                          ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




[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
applicants are very much involved in the present offence and
considering the gravity of offence, no case is made out to
entertain present bail application. 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 offence, 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:




                             Page 2 of 5
      R/CR.MA/19015/2026                                ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




         (1)     Substantial part of investigation is over;
         (2)     applicants are behind the bar since 18.07.2026;
         (3)     There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from
         the applicants;
         (4) The applicants are 19 years of age. Applicant No. 1
         allegedly assaulted the victim with a spade, while Applicant
         No. 2 allegedly assaulted the victim with a knife.
         (5)     No past antecedent;
         (6)     Prosecution has failed to point out the circumstances
         to continue or prolong their incarceration;
         (7)     Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will
         take 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 applicants in the
FIR, without discussing the evidence in detail, prima facie, this



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   R/CR.MA/19015/2026                                ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the
discretion and enlarge the applicants on regular bail. Hence, the
present application is allowed. The applicants are ordered to be
released on regular bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No.
11186008261130          of   2026       registered   with     Una      Police
Station,     Gir-Somnath      on     executing   a   personal       bond       of
Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-five Thousand only) with one local
surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court
and subject to the conditions that they 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 India without prior permission of the Trial
           Court concerned;
  (e)      mark presence before the concerned Police Station once
           in every month for a period of six months between 11.00
           a.m. and 2.00 p.m.;
  (f)      furnish the Aadhaar card, email ID/present address
           of his residence to the Investigating Officer 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


                                   Page 4 of 5
           R/CR.MA/19015/2026                                                 ORDER DATED: 17/08/2026




                   applicants.


     [9.0] The authorities will release the applicants only if they are
     not required in connection with any other offence 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 influenced by the
     observations of preliminary nature qua the evidence at this stage
     made by this Court while enlarging the applicants on bail.

     [12.0] Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct
     service is permitted.



                                                                        (HASMUKH D. SUTHAR,J)
     ALI




Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ISTAYAK ALI(HC01093), PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 17/08/2026 16:52:32




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