The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday granted regular bail to Kavitaben Manharlal @Manoj Babubhai Soni, who is the proprietor of a marriage bureau and an accused in a cheating and criminal breach of trust FIR lodged in connection with the alleged 'Looteri Dulhan' gang.
The court noted that while the applicant was running the marriage bureau and had solemnised the marriage of the complainant's nephew, her role was limited to giving a promise or solemnising the marriage. No attribution was made to her being a member of the 'Looteri Dulhan' gang, nor were any other specific allegations revealed against her in this regard.
The FIR was registered under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 61(2) and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and abetment. According to the facts presented, the complainant had approached the marriage bureau to fix a match for his nephew, for which the accused received Rs 2.10 lakh as brokerage. The marriage was eventually solemnised, but with a woman other than the one originally selected. It was further alleged that the total brokerage amount received amounted to Rs 5.10 lakh, and that the money was not paid to the parents of the witness involved.
Justice Hasmukh D Suthar, in his order, stated that even if the allegations in the FIR were accepted as true, the applicant’s role was confined to the solemnisation of the marriage and did not extend to participation in the alleged gang. The court highlighted that no role was attributed to the applicant as a member of the 'Looteri Dulhan' gang, and no other allegations of that nature were substantiated against her.
In considering the bail application, the court took into account several factors: the investigation had been completed and a charge-sheet had been filed; the applicant, being a woman, had been in custody since 27 March 2026; there was nothing to be recovered or discovered from her; despite her past antecedents, she is presumed innocent until proven guilty; the trial would naturally take time to conclude; and the prosecution had failed to demonstrate any circumstances warranting the continuation of her detention.
The court further observed that, based on the facts and circumstances of the case and the nature of the allegations, without delving into the evidence in detail, it was of the prima facie opinion that the case was fit for the grant of bail.
Accordingly, Kavitaben Manharlal @Manoj Babubhai Soni was granted bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000, subject to the usual conditions. The matter is listed as Criminal Miscellaneous Application (For Regular Bail - After Chargesheet) No 19815 of 2026, titled Kavitaben Manharlal @Manoj Babubhai Soni v/s State of Gujarat.
Appearance was made by Mr Vicky B Mehta for the applicant and Mr Rohan H Raval for the State. The order cites the case as 2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 231.