RAKESHBHAI KANTIBHAI BARIAversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The court granted regular bail to the applicant, finding that the circumstances did not warrant continued pre‑trial detention.
Summary
The applicant, Rakeshbhai Kantibhai Baria, sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with an FIR alleging offences under Sections 108, 85 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. He is alleged to have caused the suicide of his wife through mental and physical torture, but the court found no proximate causal link and noted that the investigation is complete and the charge‑sheet filed. The offences do not attract life imprisonment or death penalty, the applicant has no prior record, and he has been in custody since February 2026. Applying established bail principles and citing Supreme Court precedents (Sanjay Chandra v. CBI and Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor), the court held that bail is a rule and pre‑trial detention amounts to a de facto conviction. Consequently, the court granted regular bail on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with one surety and imposed standard conditions. The order also directed the applicant to comply with reporting and residence requirements and warned that breach would lead to bail cancellation.
Issues considered
- Whether the applicant is entitled to regular bail after the filing of a charge‑sheet under Section 483 BNSS.
- Whether the nature of the alleged offences, the applicant’s personal circumstances and the risk of tampering with evidence justify denial of bail.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 483
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023s. 108, s. 54, s. 85
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/19028/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
CHARGESHEET) NO. 19028 of 2026
==========================================================
RAKESHBHAI KANTIBHAI BARIA
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
HL PATEL ADVOCATES(2034) 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 6led under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”) for regular bail in
connection with FIR being C.R. No.11207048260087 of 2026 registered with
Morva Police Station, District Panchmahal for the o>ences punishable
under Sections 108, 85 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for
short “BNS”).
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that
applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the o>ence and now
nothing is required to be recovered or discovered. 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 requested to dismiss the present
application for regular bail looking to the nature and gravity of the o>ence.
[5.0] While granting bail, the Court has to consider the involvement of the
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R/CR.MA/19028/2026 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) The applicant is the husband of deceased and marriage span of
applicant and deceased was three years and it is the allegation that
due to mental and physical torture meted upon the deceased,
deceased committed suicide however, general and vague
allegations are made and there is no proximate cause between the
alleged acts of the applicant and suicide of deceased and even
otherwise, investigation is over and charge-sheet is 6led;
(2) None of the o>ence alleged is punishable with life sentence or
death penalty;
(3) Applicant is behind the bars since 08.02.2026;
(4) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant;
(5) The applicant is not having any past antecedent ;
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R/CR.MA/19028/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026
(6) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some
time;
(7) This Court has considered the quantum of punishment .
[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 6t
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.11207048260087 of 2026 registered with Morva Police Station,
District Panchmahal on executing a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees
Twenty-6ve 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
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R/CR.MA/19028/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026
permission of the Trial Court concerned;
(e) mark presence before the concerned Police Station once in a
month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00
p.m.;
(f) furnish the copy of Aadhaar card, email ID/contact number /
permanent and present address of his residence to the
Investigating OKcer 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 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 inMuenced 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 14:52:42
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