Asif Umarbhai Shah, accused of offences under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in connection with the alleged illegal transportation of forest products, applied for regular bail before the Gujarat High Court under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The applicant had been in custody since 30 May 2026 and was alleged to have only driven the vehicle used to transport the forest products, facilitating co-accused persons. The Court noted that the substantial part of the investigation was over, no recovery remained pending, the offences did not carry life imprisonment or death penalty, the applicant had no prior criminal antecedents, and a similarly situated co-accused had already been granted bail. Applying the principle that 'bail is the rule and jail is the exception' and relying on Article 21 of the Constitution of India and precedents from the Supreme Court, the High Court allowed the bail application subject to several conditions including a personal bond of Rs. 25,000, restrictions on leaving Gujarat, monthly reporting to the police station, and a six-month prohibition from entering Palitana Range Forest.