State of Gujarat vs REKHABEN MANGABHAI VAGHELA Advocate - A B JOSHI — 233/2026

Case Summary: State of Gujarat v. Rekhaben Mangabhai Vaghela Case No.: 233/2026 | Court: Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Palitana Decision: The accused Rekhaben Mangabhai Vaghela was acquitted of charges under Section 65(A) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949. The court found that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, as the seizure memo (panchnama) was not adequately corroborated by independent witnesses and no FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) report was produced to confirm the seized contraband was alcohol. The court held that without substantiating the panchnama's authenticity, the remaining prosecution evidence could not support the conviction, citing established precedents that when panches (witnesses) are recalled witnesses and key corroborative evidence is absent, the benefit of doubt must go to the accused. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.