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R/CR.MA/5395/2026 ORDER DATED: 10/03/2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR SUCCESSIVE REGULAR BAIL - AFTER CHARGESHEET) NO. 5395 of 2026 ========================================================== KARANSINH LABHUBHA GOHIL & ANR. Versus STATE OF GUJARAT ========================================================== Appearance:
MR SHIVRAJSINGH B RATHORE(10291) for the Applicant(s) No. 1,2 MR HARDIK MEHTA ADDL. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s) No. 1 ========================================================== CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIKHIL S. KARIEL
Date : 10/03/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned advocate Mr.Shivrajsingh Rathore appearing on behalf of the applicantS and learned Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. Hardik Mehta appearing on behalf of the respondent-State. 2. Rule. Learned APP waives service of rule on behalf of the respondent-State. 3. The applicants have filed this application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for enlarging the applicants on Regular Bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No. p. 2
R/CR.MA/5395/2026 ORDER DATED: 10/03/2026 11185007250398 of 2025 registered with Salaya MarinePolice Station, District:Devbhoomi Dwarka for the offence punishable under Sections 65(E), 116(B), 81 and 98(2) of the Prohibition Act. 4. Learned advocate for the applicants would submit that considering the role attributed to the applicants, and nature of the allegation levelled, the applicants may be enlarged on regular bail. It is further submitted that since the charge-sheet is filed no useful purpose would be served by keeping the applicants in jail for indefinite period. It is further contended that the applicants are ready and willing to abide by all the conditions that may be imposed by this Court if released on bail. 5. As against the same, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent – State has vehemently objected to the grant of regular bail. Learned APP has submitted that looking to the nature of offence and the role attributed to the present applicants as coming out from the charge-sheet, this Court may not exercise the discretion in favour of the applicants and the application may be dismissed. 6. I have heard learned advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties and perused the papers. Following aspects are considered:- p. 3 R/CR.MA/5395/2026 ORDER DATED: 10/03/2026 i. While allegation against the applicant No.1 being that he being the driver of the vehicle and applicant No.2 was sitting beside applicant No.1 from which the contraband-liquor had been recovered. ii.
The fact that this Court has considered the case of the co- accused (accused No.3) in Criminal Misc. Application No.1142 of 2026 dated 19.01.2026. iii. The fact of the applicants having one antecedent of similar nature. iv. The fact that the applicants being in custody since 17.12.2025, this Court is inclined to grant bail. This Court has taken into consideration the law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation reported in [2012] 1 SCC 40. 7. In the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the nature of the allegations made against the applicants in the First Information Report, without discussing the evidence in detail, prima facie, this Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the applicants on regular bail. Page 3 of 5
R/CR.MA/5395/2026 ORDER DATED: 10/03/2026
8. Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicants are ordered to be released on bail in connection with F.I.R. registered as C.R. No. 11185007250398 of 2025 registered with Salaya MarinePolice Station, District:Devbhoomi Dwarka, on executing a bond of Rs.25,000/- each (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with one 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; [c] surrender passport, if any, to the lower court within a week; [d] not leave the State of Gujarat without prior permission of the Sessions Court concerned; [e] furnish the present address of residence to the I.O. and also to the Court at the time of execution of the bond and shall not change the residence without prior intimation to the I.O.; [f] mark presence once in a month for a period of three months before the concerned police station. Page 4 of 5
R/CR.MA/5395/2026 ORDER DATED: 10/03/2026
9.
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 Court concerned will be free to 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 stage of trial, the trial court shall not be influenced by any observations of this Court which are of preliminary nature made at this stage, only for the purpose of considering the application of the applicants for being released on regular bail. 12. The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is permitted. (NIKHIL S. KARIEL,J) NAIR SMITA V./11-DB