[Cites 5, Cited by 0]
Gujarat High Court
Pravinbhai Harnathsinh Jadeja vs State Of Gujarat on 27 February, 2026
Author: Nikhil S. Kariel
Bench: Nikhil S. Kariel
NEUTRAL CITATION
R/CR.MA/4984/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER
CHARGESHEET) NO. 4984 of 2026
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PRAVINBHAI HARNATHSINH JADEJA
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
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Appearance:
MR VIRAT G POPAT(3710) for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR NIRAJ SHARMA ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s)
No. 1
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE NIKHIL S. KARIEL
Date : 27/02/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard learned Advocate Mr. Virat Popat appearing on behalf of the
applicant and learned Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. Niraj Sharma
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. 11194025250007/2025
registered with Surat Rural A.C.B. Police Station, Surat for the offence
punishable under Sections 7, 7(A), 12, 13(1)(a), 13(2) of the Prevention of
Corruption Act.
NEUTRAL CITATION
R/CR.MA/4984/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
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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 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, this Court may not exercise the
discretion in favour of the applicant and the application may be dismissed.
6. This Court has heard learned Advocates appearing on behalf of the
respective parties and perused the papers. Following aspects are considered:-
(i) The allegation in the FIR being that the accused had
sought for illegal gratification of Rs. 3,00,000/- and whereas it
would appear that a co-accused had sought for the illegal
gratification on behalf of the applicant.
(ii) It would also appear that the co-accused, appears to
have been caught while he had been accepting the illegal
gratification
NEUTRAL CITATION
R/CR.MA/4984/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
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(iii) The fact of the said co-accused having been considered
by this Court vide an order dated 10.02.2026 in Criminal Misc.
Application No. 784 of 2026.
(iv) The fact of the present applicant being in custody since
19.12.2025 and the charge-sheet having been filed by the
Investigating Officer, allaying any apprehension that the
applicant would be able to influence the investigation.
(v) The fact of the applicant having been suspended,
allaying any apprehension that he would try and influence the
trial.
(vi) The fact of the applicant being a Government servant,
there is no apprehension that the applicant would jump the
bail and not attend the trial.
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
NEUTRAL CITATION
R/CR.MA/4984/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
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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.
11194025250007/2025 registered with Surat Rural A.C.B. Police
Station, Surat, on executing a bond of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac
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 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
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R/CR.MA/4984/2026 ORDER DATED: 27/02/2026
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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)
NIRU
