Regular bail is justified where the charge-sheet is filed and the accused has no criminal antecedents.

The complainant alleged that three persons booked his Scorpio vehicle, transferred an advance of ₹1,500, and then assaulted him and forcibly took the vehicle.

The applicant was arrested in connection with the resulting crime, registered under Sections 127(2), 127(8), 3(5) and 309(6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).

The applicant claimed that he had intended to purchase a second-hand vehicle and had received the vehicle and keys from a co-accused for inspection; the State did not dispute that he was arrested while taking possession of them.

The applicant had been in custody since 4 June 2026, had no criminal antecedents, and the charge-sheet had been filed.

He sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).

Whether the applicant should be released on regular bail under Section 483 of the BNSS, having regard to the circumstances of the alleged offence, his custody, antecedents and the stage of the proceedings?

Section 483 of the BNSS provides the basis for the High Court’s consideration of an application for regular bail.

In deciding the application, the Court considered the nature of the allegations, the filing of the charge-sheet, the applicant’s lack of criminal antecedents, the period spent in custody and the likely duration of the trial.

The Court made no determination on the merits of the prosecution case.

The Court weighed the allegations and the seizure of the vehicle from the applicant against the circumstances that the charge-sheet had been filed, the applicant had no prior criminal record, and he had remained in custody since 4 June 2026.

Given that the trial was likely to take time, the Court concluded that bail was appropriate without expressing any view on the merits.

Bail was subject to conditions concerning adjournments, attendance, appearance at specified trial stages, and consequences for misuse of liberty or failure to appear.

The Registry was directed to send a certified copy of the order to the trial court.