R/CR.MA/18879/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER CHARGESHEET) NO. 18879 of 2026 ========================================================== VIVEK PRAFULBHAI NARANBHAI CHAUHAN Versus STATE OF GUJARAT ========================================================== Appearance: MR. KISHAN H DAIYA(6929) 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) RULE. Learned APP waives service of rule for the respondent-State. 2) 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.11210012260243 of 2026 registered with Chowk Bazaar Police Station, Surat for the o.ences under Sections 318(2), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 204, 337 and 338 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 3) 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. Investigation is over and charge- sheet has been led. He therefore submits that, considering the nature of the o.ence, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail by imposing suitable conditions. Page 1 of 5 R/CR.MA/18879/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026 4) 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 involved in the present o.ence and played an active role. There is every possibility that, if the applicant is released on bail, he will indulge in similar o.ences and try to tamper with the evidence. Therefore, present application does not deserve consideration. 5) 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) 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 is that the applicant has prepared p. 2 R/CR.MA/18879/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026 forged appointment letter in his mobile to o.er job in railway and subsequently forwarded to co- accused and then to the complainant. Except preparing forged job order in mobile, no role is attributed to the applicant. The mobile is already seized and sent to the FSL.; (2) Applicant is behind the bars since 20.02.2026; (3) The applicant is having two past antecedents, however, the accused is governed by presumption of innocence unless and until proved guilty; (4) Co-accused having similar role is enlarged on regular bail and therefore, on the ground of parity also (Rameshbhai Batubhai Dhabi Vs. State of Gujarat reported in 2011 (3) GLR 1999), present application deserves consideration; (5) Investigation is over and charge-sheet is led; (6) There is nothing to be recovered or discovered from the applicant; (7) Obviously commencement and conclusion of trial will take some time. 7) 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 p. 3 R/CR.MA/18879/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026 exception” as well as the concept of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, present application deserves consideration. 8) 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.11210012260243 of 2026 registered with Chowk Bazaar Police Station, Surat 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; (a) shall not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty; (b) shall 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) shall surrender passport, if any, to the Trial Court within a week; (d) shall not leave the territory of the State of Gujarat without prior permission of the Trial Court concerned; (e) shall mark presence before the concerned Police Station once in every month for a period of six p. 4 R/CR.MA/18879/2026 ORDER DATED: 14/08/2026 months between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.; (f) shall furnish the 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 without prior permission of Trial Court; (g) shall not indulge in any illegal activity, failing which the learned trial Court shall issue warrant and cancel the bail of the applicant. 9) 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) 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) At the trial, the trial Court shall not be inEuenced by the observations of preliminary nature qua the evidence at this stage made by this Court while enlarging the applicant on bail. 12) Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is permitted. (HASMUKH D. SUTHAR,J) ILA p. 5 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 14/08/2026 15:49:57