R/CR.MA/8800/2025 ORDER DATED: 02/05/2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR ANTICIPATORY BAIL) NO. 8800 of 2025 ========================================================== BHARTI SUNIL HARISHANKAR Versus STATE OF GUJARAT ========================================================== Appearance: MR. JIT P PATEL(6994) for the Applicant(s) No. 1 MR HARDIK MEHTA, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1 ========================================================== CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HASMUKH D. SUTHAR Date : 02/05/2025 ORAL ORDER RULE. Learned APP waives service of notice of Rule for and on behalf of the respondent No.1 – State of Gujarat. [1.0] By way of the present application under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”), the applicant has prayed for anticipatory bail in the event of arrest in connection with the FIR being C.R. No. 11215001250163 of 2025 registered with Anand Police Station, Dist. Anand Rural, for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 336(2), 336(3), 337, 339 and 54 of BNS and Section 66(C) of IT Act. [2.0] Learned advocate for the applicant submits that the applicant has nothing to do with the offence. The applicant has no past antecedent. Role of the applicant is that, he has facilitated the complainant to render his professional services to secure his National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC) and for that, he has received Rs.3 lacs from the complainant. The applicant has prepared file and handed over to the complainant, which he submitted before the authority, and pursuant to the said documents/file, he appeared for UK visa and got refusal. Whatever transaction took place with regard to secure UK visa is with accused No.1 and at the instance of accused No.1, the complainant met the applicant and entrusted the work to prepare file. Therefore, considering his limited role, R/CR.MA/8800/2025 ORDER DATED: 02/05/2025 applicant may be granted anticipatory bail. He is ready and willing to join the investigation and to show his bonafide, he is ready to deposit Rs.1.5 lacs. Therefore, custodial interrogation at this stage is not necessary. Besides, the applicant is available during the course of investigation and will not flee from justice. In view of the above, the applicant may be granted anticipatory bail. [3.0] Learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent – State has opposed grant of anticipatory bail looking to the nature and gravity of the offence. He has submitted that the investigation is at initial stage. The applicant has not only rendered his professional services, but he has received amount and forged documents of Global University, Mirzapur (U.P). Though the complainant was having a degree of only 12th Pass, his graduate certificates came to be forged and submitted before the authority, due to which the complainant got refusal in UK visa. At the instance of accused No.1, the complainant contacted the applicant, who forged documents and prepared file. Therefore, to unearth truth, custodial interrogation is required. Hence, application does not deserve any consideration. [4.0] Having heard the learned advocate for the parties and perusing the investigation papers, it is equally incumbent upon the Court to exercise its discretion judiciously, cautiously and strictly in compliance with the basic principles laid down in a plethora of decisions of the Hon’ble Apex Court on the point. It is well settled that, among other circumstances, the factors to be borne in mind while considering an application for bail are (i) the nature and gravity of the accusation; (ii) the antecedents of the applicant including the fact as to whether he has previously undergone imprisonment on conviction by a Court in respect of any cognizable offence; (iii) the possibility of the applicant to flee from justice; and (iv) where the accusation has been made with the object of injuring or humiliating the applicant by having him so arrested. Though at the stage of granting bail an elaborate examination R/CR.MA/8800/2025 ORDER DATED: 02/05/2025 of evidence and detailed reasons touching the merit of the case, which may prejudice the accused, should be avoided. I have considered the following aspects. (1) The applicant has no past antecedent. (2) Allegation against the applicant is that, at the instance of accused No.1, the complainant met the applicant and applicant forged documents and prepared file and submitted before the visa authority and finally, could not secure UK visa. (3) Whatever the assurance to secure UK visa was given by accused No.1 and at his instance, the complainant met the applicant for preparing file which the applicant has done as a part of his professional services and taken money from the complainant. (4) However, the applicant is ready and willing to join investigation and to show his bonafide, ready to deposit Rs.1,50,000/- subject to outcome of the proceedings. (5) No allegation of criminal breach of trust or cheating is there. [5.0] Considering the aforesaid aspects and the law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre vs. State of Maharashtra and Ors. reported in (2011) 1 SCC 6941, wherein the Hon’ble Apex Court reiterated the law laid down by the Constitution Bench in the case of Shri Gurubaksh Singh Sibbia & Ors. reported in (1980) 2 SCC 665 and also the decision in the case of Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi) reported in (2020) 5 SCC 1 , I am inclined to allow the present application. [6.0] In the result, the present application is allowed by directing that in the event of arrest / appearance of the applicant in connection with FIR being C.R. No. 11215001250163 of 2025 registered with Anand Police Station, Dist. Anand Rural, the applicant shall be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) with one surety of like amount on the following conditions that applicant: (a) shall cooperate with the investigation and make herself available for interrogation whenever required; R/CR.MA/8800/2025 ORDER DATED: 02/05/2025 (b) shall remain present at the concerned Police Station on 06.05.2025 between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. and the IO shall ensure that no unnecessary harassment or inconvenience is caused to the applicant; (c) shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the fact of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police ofÏcer; (d) shall not obstruct or hamper the police investigation and not to play mischief with the evidence collected or yet to be collected by the police; (e) shall at the time of execution of bond, furnish the address to the investigating ofÏcer and the court concerned and shall not change her/his residence till the final disposal of the case till further orders; (f) shall not leave India without the permission of the Court and if having passport shall deposit the same before the Trial Court within a week; (g) an order of anticipatory bail does not in any manner limit or restrict the rights or duties of the police or investigative agency, to investigate into the charges against the person who seeks and is granted pre-arrest bail; (h) It is open to the police or the investigating agency to move the learned trial Court for a direction under Section 483(2) to arrest the accused, in the event of violation of any term, such as absconding, non-cooperating during investigation, evasion, intimidation or inducement to witnesses with a view to influence outcome of the investigation or trial, etc.- (i) shall deposit Rs.1,50,000/- before the learned trial Court within a week from today. [7.0] At the trial, the Trial Court shall not be influenced by the prima facie observations made by this Court while enlarging the applicant on bail. [8.0] Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Application is disposed of accordingly. 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 02/05/2025 14:59:36