Gujarat High Court Grants Bail to Woman Accused in Bomb Threat Email Case

Court Considers Custody Duration, Charge-Sheet Status, and Gender in Bail Decision

Ahmedabad, November 26, 2025 - In a significant judgment, the Gujarat High Court has granted bail to Rene Joshilda Goldwin Joseph, who was accused of sending anonymous bomb threat emails to various organizations, causing considerable alarm and harassment to the police and the concerned organizations. The bail application, filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, was heard by Justice Nikhil S. Kariel.

The court's decision was influenced by several factors, including the applicant's prolonged custody since June 28, 2025, the completion of the charge-sheet filing, and her status as a female accused. Justice Kariel noted that while the allegations were serious, the applicant appeared to be a disturbed individual, potentially driven by personal disputes.

Advocate Vishalkumar R. Tomar, representing Joseph, argued that her continued detention served no useful purpose post-charge-sheet filing and emphasized her willingness to comply with any bail conditions. Conversely, Additional Public Prosecutor L.B. Dhabi opposed the bail, highlighting the severity of the offense and the applicant's role as detailed in the charge-sheet.

The court underscored the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation [2012] 1 SCC 40, which stress the importance of considering the nature of allegations and preliminary facts without delving deeply into the evidence at the bail stage.

In granting bail, the court imposed several conditions to prevent misuse of liberty and ensure compliance, including the surrender of Joseph's passport, furnishing her current residence details, and executing a bond of Rs. 10,000 with a surety of the same amount. The trial court retains the authority to modify or relax these conditions as deemed fit.

The judgment reflects the court's balanced approach in handling bail applications, especially concerning female accused, while ensuring the integrity of the legal process and the interests of the prosecution.

Bottom Line:

Bail application under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Accused alleged of sending anonymous bomb threat emails granted bail considering her custody period, filing of charge-sheet, and being a lady accused. The court emphasized conditions for bail and noted the accused's willingness to comply with them.

Statutory provision(s): Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Sections 351(3), 353(1)(B) of BNS Act, Section 66(C) of IT Act.

Rene Joshilda Goldwin Joseph v. State of Gujarat, (Gujarat) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2814790