Government of Gujarat vs RAVAL SONALBEN DALAPATBHAI DHULABHAI — 502/2026

The Gujarat High Court held that trial courts possess discretionary power to impose sentences below the statutory minimum for first offenses when "special and adequate reasons" are recorded in the judgment, rejecting the State's contention of absolute mandatory minimum sentencing. The court clarified that plea of guilty and plea bargaining are distinct concepts, and no prescribed format can supersede statutory procedures under the Bombay Prohibition Act; discretionary sentencing authority must be exercised judicially based on documented special circumstances. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.