Vadodara Car Crash: Gujarat High Court Grants Bail To 23-Yr-Old Booked For Rash Driving Causing Death Of One, Injuring Nine

The Gujarat High Court on Monday (December 22) granted regular bail to a 23-year-old student accused of rash and dangerous driving in the Vadodara car crash case earlier this year which had resulted in the death of one person and injured nine others.

The court directed the applicant be released on bail on furnishing a bond of Rs. 1 Lakh with one surety of the like amount subject to certain conditions.

Chorasiya has been booked for offences under BNS Sections 105(culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 281(Rash driving or riding on a public way), 125(Act endangering life or personal safety of others), 324(5)(mischief), 54(Abettor present when offence is committed).

He was also booked under Sections 134(Duty of owner of motor vehicle to give information), 177(General provision for punishment of offences), 184(driving dangerously), 185 (driving by drunken person or person under influence of drugs) of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Justice Nikhil S Kariel in his order noted:

"The fact that the applicant appears to be a young person aged around 23 years and whereas, while the offence concerned is very serious, where the allegation being that the applicant has collided with the three vehicles causing injuries to 9 persons and causing death of 1 person, yet, to this Court, it would appear that the present applicant being in custody since 14.03.2025 and the charge-sheet having been laid on 10.06.2025, the case of the present applicant for release requires to be considered".

The court also noted the contention of the State's counsel that the "applicant had uttered certain words" after the accident had happened and it also appeared that an offence punishable under Section 27(A) of the NDPS Act was also filed, on the allegation that the "applicant was under influence of THC (Tetra Hydro Cannabinol) and Codeine at the time of the offence".

"The fact that the applicant is stated to be a 23 year old student, without any antecedents except the two referred to hereinabove and whereas, since it appears that the case against the present applicant predominantly is with regard to having committed offence under Section 105 of the BNS, and having considered the fact that the applicant is in custody since 9 months, to this Court, at this stage, interference is required albeit with appropriate safeguards more particularly to allay the apprehension expressed by learned APP," the court added.

In the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the nature of the allegations made against the applicant in the FIR, and without discussing the evidence in detail, prima facie, the Court was of the prima facie view that it was a fit case to exercise its discretion and enlarge the applicant on regular bail.

The counsel for the petitioner argued that considering the role attributed to the applicant, and nature of the allegations levelled, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail. It was further submitted that since the chargesheet is filed no useful purpose would be served by keeping the applicant in jail for indefinite period. It was further contended that the applicant is ready and willing to abide by all the conditions that may be imposed by the Court if released on bail.

The counsel for the State submitted that looking to the nature of offence and the role attributed to the applicant as coming out from the charge-sheet, the Court may not exercise the discretion in the applicant's favour and it may be dismissed.

While grating bail, the high court said, that at the stage of trial, the trial court shall not be influenced by any observations of the High Court which are of preliminary nature made at this stage and are only for the purpose of considering the regular bail application of the applicant.

The plea was allowed.

Case title: RAKSHIT RAVISH CHORASIYA v/s STATE OF GUJARAT

R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL - AFTER CHARGESHEET) NO. 25287 of 2025

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