SUBHASHBHAI BHAILALBHAI PATELversusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH
- Bench
- HASMUKH D SUTHAR
Holding
The Court held that regular bail should be granted to the accused, subject to prescribed conditions.
Summary
The petitioner Subhashbhai Bhailalbhai Patel applied for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, after a charge‑sheet was filed for offences under Sections 326(g) and 324(4) of the same Act. The State opposed bail, arguing the gravity of the alleged arson‑related offence and risk of the accused fleeing or tampering with evidence. The Court examined the statutory factors for bail, the completed investigation, the lack of any pending recovery, and the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, citing Supreme Court precedents. It found that the prosecution had not demonstrated a need to continue pre‑trial detention. 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 surrender of passport.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail can be granted after the filing of a charge‑sheet for offences under Sections 326(g) and 324(4) of the BNSS, 2023.
- Whether the nature of the alleged arson offence and the risk of tampering, absconding, or prejudice to the investigation justify denial of bail.
- Whether the statutory factors and Supreme Court precedents on bail jurisprudence apply to the present case.
Legislation cited
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023s. 324(4), s. 326(g), s. 483
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.MA/19159/2026 ORDER DATED: 18/08/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
CHARGESHEET) NO. 19159 of 2026
==========================================================
SUBHASHBHAI BHAILALBHAI PATEL
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
HIMANSHU SUTHAR(8098) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS DHWANI TRIPATHI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR
Date : 18/08/2026
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.11191002260029 of 2026 registered with Ranip
Police Station, Ahmedabad City, for the o.ences under Sections
326(g), 324(4) of BNS, 2023.
[3.0] Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant
submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely
implicated in the o.ence. Investigation is over and charge-sheet
has been led. 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.
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R/CR.MA/19159/2026 ORDER DATED: 18/08/2026
[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
applicant is very much involved in the present o.ence and
considering the gravity of o.ence, no case is made out to entertain
present bail application. If the applicant is released on bail,
possibility cannot be ruled out that the applicant will 4ee from
justice. 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 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. Allegation
against the present applicant is that, as relations with present
applicant with daughter of the complainant and the complainant
was broken and complaints came to be led qua same at
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R/CR.MA/19159/2026 ORDER DATED: 18/08/2026
Chandkheda Police Station against the applicant by the
complainant side, keeping grudge of the same, present applicant
accused sprinkled some in4ammable liquid and set on re in store
room of house of the complainant from the window and thereby
caused damage of Rs.10,000/- and in this regard, the complaint
came to be led. Following aspects have been considered:
(1) Investigation is over and charge-sheet is led;
(2) Applicant is behind the bar since 26/02/2026;
(3) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the
applicant;
(4) Though the applicant is having past antecedents, he is
presumed to be innocent till proven guilty;
(5) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will
take its own time;
(6) Prosecution has failed to point out the circumstances to
continue or prolong his detention.
[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.
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R/CR.MA/19159/2026 ORDER DATED: 18/08/2026
[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.11191002260029 of 2026 registered with Ranip
Police Station, Ahmedabad City, 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
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 O.icer 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
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R/CR.MA/19159/2026 ORDER DATED: 18/08/2026
trial Court shall issue warrant and cancel the bail of the
applicant;
(h) not to enter into territory of Chandkheda Police
Station till victim examined;
[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 in4uenced 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)
ILA
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: ILA PRAFULKUMAR PATEL(HC00194), Principal Pvt Secretary, at High Court of Gujarat on 18/08/2026 14:53:18
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