IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. OF 2026 (arising out of SLP(Crl.) No. 15870 of 2025)

ARUNABEN SAGARBHAI ..... APPELLANT(S)

BHATT VERSUS STATE OF GUJARAT ..... RESPONDENT(S)

O R D E R

Leave granted.

The appellant, Arunaben Sagarbhai Bhatt, is before this Court aggrieved by the denial of anticipatory bail by the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad, vide judgment and order dated 22.09.2025 passed in R/Criminal Misc. Application (for Successive Anticipatory Bail) No. 19186/2025 in relation to C.R./First Information Report (FIR) No. 11210022251010/2025 dated 23.04.2025 registered with Police Station – Kapodra, Deepak Guglani Date: 2026.03.10

1 R 7 e : a 4 s 9 o :4 n 4 : IST Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.) No. 15870/2025 1 District – Surat City, Gujarat, for the offences punishable under Sections 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 341(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

By order dated 08.10.2025, this Court directed the appellant, Arunaben Sagarbhai Bhatt, to join and cooperate with the investigation, and subject to her doing so, she was granted protection from arrest.

The State of Gujarat filed its counter affidavit, wherein it is stated that the appellant joined the investigation in relation to the aforestated C.R./FIR and is presently cooperating.

In the light of the aforestated statement, we find no grounds made out for the custodial interrogation of the appellant, Arunaben Sagarbhai Bhatt, at this stage.

Accordingly, the appeal is allowed, setting aside the impugned judgment/order dated 22.09.2025. It is directed that in

Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.) No. 15870/2025 2

the event the appellant, Arunaben Sagarbhai Bhatt, is arrested in relation to the C.R./FIR in question, she shall be released on bail on such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the trial Court.

The appellant, Arunaben Sagarbhai Bhatt, shall continue to cooperate with the investigation and shall also abide by the conditions stipulated in Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

We clarify that we have not made any observations/comments on the merits of the case and any observation made in this order is meant only for the limited purpose of grant of anticipatory bail. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

......................J.

(SANJAY KUMAR)

......................J.

(K. VINOD CHANDRAN)

NEW DELHI;

MARCH 10, 2026.

Crl.A. @ SLP(Crl.) No. 15870/2025 3

ITEM NO.2 COURT NO.12 SECTION II-E S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No.

15870/2025 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 22-09-2025 in CRLMA No. 19186/2025 passed by the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad]

ARUNABEN SAGARBHAI BHATT Petitioner(s)

VERSUS STATE OF GUJARAT Respondent(s)

Date : 10-03-2026 This matter was called on for hearing today.

CORAM :

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. VINOD CHANDRAN For Petitioner(s) :

Mr. Pradeep Kumar Yadav, Adv.

Mr. Vishal Thakre, Adv.

Mr. Gopal Singh, Adv.

Ms. Anjale Kumari, Adv.

Mr. Deepak Yadav, Adv.

Ms. Chhaya, Adv.

Ms. Sangita Mishra, Adv.

Mr. Aditya Yadav, Adv.

Mr. Sanjeev Malhotra, AOR For Respondent(s) :

Mr. Prashant Bhagwati, Adv.

Ms. Swati Ghildiyal, AOR Mr. Sankalp Suman, Adv.

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following

O R D E R

Leave granted.

The appeal is allowed, setting aside the impugned judgment/order dated 22.09.2025, in terms of the signed order. It is directed that in the event the appellant, Arunaben Sagarbhai Bhatt, is arrested in relation to C.R./First Information Report (FIR) No. 11210022251010/2025 dated 23.04.2025 registered with Police Station – Kapodra, District – Surat City, Gujarat, for the offences punishable under Sections 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 341(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, she shall be released on bail on such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the trial Court.

The appellant, Arunaben Sagarbhai Bhatt, shall continue to cooperate with the investigation and shall also abi