Gujarat High Court
Sureshbhai Kashinath Vanjara vs State Of Gujarat on 20 April, 2026
NEUTRAL CITATION
R/CR.MA/312/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
CHARGESHEET) NO. 312 of 2026
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SURESHBHAI KASHINATH VANJARA
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
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Appearance:
MR ADIL R MIRZA(2488) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR SOAHAM JOSHI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE UTKARSH THAKORBHAI
DESAI
Date : 20/04/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned advocate Mr. Adil R. Mirza appearing on behalf of the applicant and learned Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. Soaham Joshi 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. 7/2025-26 registered with Valsad Range Forest Police Station, District: Valsad Page 1 of 6 Uploaded by MAYA S. CHAUHAN(HC01402) on Tue Apr 21 2026 Downloaded on : Tue Apr 21 23:48:06 IST 2026 NEUTRAL CITATION R/CR.MA/312/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026 undefined for the offences punishable under Sections 2(1)(2)(11)(15) (16)(31)(36), 9, 39(3), 44(1)(A), 50, 51, 52, 55 and 57 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
4. Learned advocate for the applicant would submit that considering the role attributed to the applicant, and nature of the allegation levelled, the applicant 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 applicant in jail for indefinite period. 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 charge-sheet, this Court may not exercise the discretion in favour of the applicant and the application may be dismissed.
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NEUTRAL CITATION R/CR.MA/312/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026 undefined
6. I have heard learned advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties and perused the papers. Following aspects are considered:-
i. The applicant is a permanent resident of Valsad District, hence would be available at the time of trial;
ii. The applicant does not have criminal antecedents; iii. As per the FIR, the Forest Officer had conducted raid in the house of co-accused Ajaybhai Mandabhai Patel from wherein, Leopard skin and paws were recovered, and upon inquiring from him, he had revealed that the same was brought from the present applicant, who in turn had submitted that, he had brought the same from his relative named Sitaram.
iv. Co-accused Ajaybhai Mandabhai Patel has been considered for regular bail vide order dated 30.03.2026 in CR.M.A. No. 526 of 2026.
v. The apprehension of the learned APP that, the applicant would once again indulge in such or similar offence can be put to rest by imposing stringent conditions.
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NEUTRAL CITATION R/CR.MA/312/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026 undefined vi. The investigation is completed. Charge-sheet have been filed.
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 F.I.R. registered as C.R. No. 7/2025-26 registered with Valsad Range Forest Police Station, District: Valsad, on executing a bond of Rs.25,000/- (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 he shall;
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NEUTRAL CITATION R/CR.MA/312/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026 undefined [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 for one year 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 at liberty to take appropriate action against the applicant. Page 5 of 6 Uploaded by MAYA S. CHAUHAN(HC01402) on Tue Apr 21 2026 Downloaded on : Tue Apr 21 23:48:06 IST 2026
NEUTRAL CITATION R/CR.MA/312/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/04/2026 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.
(UTKARSH THAKORBHAI DESAI, J) MAYA Page 6 of 6 Uploaded by MAYA S. CHAUHAN(HC01402) on Tue Apr 21 2026 Downloaded on : Tue Apr 21 23:48:06 IST 2026