[Cites 6, Cited by 0]
Gujarat High Court
Hunjibhai Sengabhai Vasava vs State Of Gujarat on 20 February, 2026
Author: Nikhil S. Kariel
Bench: Nikhil S. Kariel
NEUTRAL CITATION
R/CR.MA/1940/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/02/2026
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - BEFORE
CHARGESHEET) NO. 1940 of 2026
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HUNJIBHAI SENGABHAI VASAVA
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
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Appearance:
MR. SUBHAM T. WAGHMARE(18544) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR L B DABHI, APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIKHIL S. KARIEL
Date : 20/02/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned Advocate Mr. S.T. Waghmare appearing on behalf
of the applicant and learned Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. L.B. Dabhi
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. 11823017252042 of
2025 registered with Rajpipla Police Station, District Narmada, for the
offence punishable under Sections 65(a), 65(e), 81, 98(2) and 116-B of
the Gujarat Prohibition Act.
4. Learned advocate for the applicant would submit that considering
NEUTRAL CITATION
R/CR.MA/1940/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/02/2026
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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 of having dealt in prohibited liquor and whereas it
would appear that the allegation against the applicant being that he
was driving the vehicle which contained the prohibited liquor and
upon seeing the police officers, he had run away. Prima facie beyond
the same, there being no other material against the present applicant
since the vehicle did not belong to the present applicant.
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R/CR.MA/1940/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/02/2026
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ii. It also appears that while there are two antecedents against the
present applicant, the applicant has been acquitted in both the
offences.
iii. The fact of the applicant being in custody since 05.01.2026.
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.
11823017252042 of 2025 registered with Rajpipla Police Station, District
Narmada, 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;
[a] not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;
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[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 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.
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
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R/CR.MA/1940/2026 ORDER DATED: 20/02/2026
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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
