Gujarat High Court
Shatrudhan Narvdeshvar Pandey vs State Of Gujarat on 2 April, 2026
Author: Nikhil S. Kariel
Bench: Nikhil S. Kariel
NEUTRAL CITATION
R/CR.MA/7566/2026 ORDER DATED: 02/04/2026
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 7566 of 2026
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SHATRUDHAN NARVDESHVAR PANDEY
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
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Appearance:
MR MAULIN G PANDYA(3999) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR J K SHAH, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIKHIL S. KARIEL
Date : 02/04/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned Advocate Mr. Maulin Pandya appearing on behalf of the applicant and learned Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. J.K. Shah appearing on behalf of the respondent-State.
2. Rule. Learned APP waives service of rule on behalf of the respondent-State.
3. The applicant has filed this application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for enlarging the applicant on Regular Bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No. 11215039260076 of 2026 registered with Virsad Police Station, District Anand, for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4) and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
4. Learned Advocate for the applicant would submit that considering Page 1 of 5 Uploaded by BHUPENDRASINH SONAGRA(HC01082) on Thu Apr 02 2026 Downloaded on : Fri Apr 03 00:52:02 IST 2026 NEUTRAL CITATION R/CR.MA/7566/2026 ORDER DATED: 02/04/2026 undefined the role attributed to the applicant, and nature of the allegation levelled, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail. It is further contended that the applicant is 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 applicant as coming out from the affidavit of the Investigating Officer, this Court may not exercise the discretion in favour of the applicant 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:-
i. Allegation is that the accused had defrauded the complainant by purchasing goods (Tobacco) and not paying the money. ii. Prima facie it would appear that even as per the complaint, the co- accused i.e. accused No.1 was the person, who had placed the order for the goods in question and whereas the present applicant appears to be present along with the accused No.1.
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NEUTRAL CITATION R/CR.MA/7566/2026 ORDER DATED: 02/04/2026 undefined iii. It would also appear even considering the investigating carried out till today that invoice had been raised by the complainant as regards the goods in the name of one Gujarat Farid Tobacco, which has a separate GST Number and whereas it would appear that the said firm is registered in the name of the accused No.1 and whereas the present applicant being accused No.2 has nothing to do with the said firm. iv. While learned APP would draw the attention of this Court to antecedent against the present applicant, yet, to this Court it would appear that the said antecedent may not play any role having regard to the limited allegations against the present applicant. 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 applicant 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 applicant on regular bail.
8. Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to be released on bail in connection with FIR being C.R. No. Page 3 of 5 Uploaded by BHUPENDRASINH SONAGRA(HC01082) on Thu Apr 02 2026 Downloaded on : Fri Apr 03 00:52:02 IST 2026 NEUTRAL CITATION R/CR.MA/7566/2026 ORDER DATED: 02/04/2026 undefined 11215039260076 of 2026 registered with Virsad Police Station, District Anand, on executing a bond of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh 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; [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 a week till the charge-sheet is filed and thereafter once a month for a period of six months before the concerned police station.
9. The Authorities will release the applicant only if he is 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. Page 4 of 5 Uploaded by BHUPENDRASINH SONAGRA(HC01082) on Thu Apr 02 2026 Downloaded on : Fri Apr 03 00:52:02 IST 2026
NEUTRAL CITATION R/CR.MA/7566/2026 ORDER DATED: 02/04/2026 undefined
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 applicant 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) BDSONGARA Page 5 of 5 Uploaded by BHUPENDRASINH SONAGRA(HC01082) on Thu Apr 02 2026 Downloaded on : Fri Apr 03 00:52:02 IST 2026