Appeal dismissed — ruling against Deepaben Dhananjay Choksi (Applicant)
In Short
A woman who signed as a witness on a disputed family property sale deed asked the court for anticipatory bail to avoid arrest. The Gujarat High Court examined the case and ultimately handled her plea.
The Parties
Party A: Deepaben Dhananjay Choksi
Party B: State of Gujarat
Advocates & Judges
For Party A: Learned Advocate Mr. Deven Parikh, Senior Counsel with Learned Advocate Mr. P. P. Majmudar
For Party B: Learned Advocate Mr. Darshit Raval, Learned Advocate Ms. Jirga Jhaveri
Judge(s): Hon'ble Justice Utkarsh Thakorbhai Desai
What the Case Was About
A large family property in Vadodara was originally purchased by four brothers and their wives. Years later, the family decided to rebuild the old building. They gave a limited power of attorney to one of the brothers, Harish Ambalal Choksi, strictly for managing the new construction work.
However, one of the family members later discovered through a land revenue notice that Harish had sold off the entire property to his own son through a registered sale deed for Rs. 1,70,00,000, even though he had no legal right to sell it. The buyer was Harish's son, and the applicant, Deepaben Dhananjay Choksi, had signed the sale deed as a witness. This led to a serious criminal case involving allegations of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy against several family members, including Deepaben.
Judgment Date
14/10/2026
The Outcome
The court reviewed the arguments and case records to decide whether the applicant deserved protection from arrest.
What the Court Looked At
- The court noted that the original power of attorney given to the main accused, Harish Choksi, was meant only for construction and development, not for selling the property.
- An affidavit from the family's long-time lawyer confirmed that the power of attorney was strictly for internal administrative and building tasks.
- The court observed that the property was transferred to the main accused's son, and the applicant stood as a witness on that sale deed.
- The state pointed out that this was a successive bail application, a previous bail plea had already been rejected, and a warrant had been issued because the applicant remained absconding.
- The court noted that the main accused individuals had earlier been granted regular bail by the court.
What This Means For You
Being connected to a suspicious property transaction—even just by signing as a witness—can put you in serious legal trouble if things go wrong. In this case, the applicant was pulled into a major criminal investigation because her name was on a disputed sale deed where family property was allegedly sold behind other relatives' backs. If you are asked to sign documents for a property deal, always make sure you completely understand the legal rights of the people involved, because standing as a witness or playing a minor role in a fraudulent transfer can land you in a police case. If you find yourself tangled in a complex property dispute or facing unexpected police action, Setback Solutions can help you understand your options and coordinate your next steps in plain language.
You Still Have Options
If you are facing a false FIR or struggling with a sudden criminal case over property, it can feel overwhelming and frightening. You might be wondering what your next move should be after a court rejects your initial bail application. Remember that this is not the end of the road, and you can still explore second opinions, legal strategy reviews, or non-judicial guidance. Reach out to Setback Solutions to get clear, plain-language help in understanding your options and coordinating your next steps. Please note that Setback Solutions is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or guarantee any specific court outcome.