Torrent Pharma Data Theft Case: Gujarat HC Suspends Travel Restriction on Accused for One Month

The relief was granted after Subudhi informed the High Court that his son had recently met with an accident and his wife was suffering from various ailments, requiring his presence at home to take care of them. The court passed the order on September 16 while hearing Subudhi’s application seeking deletion of the travel restriction imposed as part of its August 11 bail order.

Justice Hasmukh D Suthar observed that Subudhi’s presence was necessary to attend to his family. However, instead of permanently deleting the bail condition, the High Court suspended its operation for one month from September 16.

The case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Ahmedabad under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) pertaining to theft, extortion and criminal breach of trust by an employee. Provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 relating to unauthorised access to or damage to computer systems, computer-related offences, tampering with computer source documents and fraudulent use of electronic authentication credentials were also invoked.

According to the prosecution case recorded in the High Court’s August 11 order, Subudhi allegedly stole confidential information belonging to Torrent Pharmaceuticals and demanded Rs 6 crore from the pharmaceutical company on the pretext of disclosing its confidential details, data and information to a third party.

Advocate Mitesh Amin, assisted by a team of advocates, appeared for Torrent Pharmaceuticals during the earlier bail proceedings. According to the prosecution, Subudhi was accused of theft of critical company data and ceased to be an employee of Torrent Pharmaceuticals following registration of the FIR.

During the original bail proceedings, counsel for Subudhi maintained that he was innocent and had been falsely implicated in the case. In support of his bail application, Subudhi submitted an affidavit undertaking that he would not directly or indirectly use, access, exploit, disseminate, publish, transmit, share, copy, reproduce, transfer, sell or otherwise deal with confidential information belonging to Torrent Pharmaceuticals, its subsidiaries, holding companies, group companies or affiliates. The High Court took the undertaking on record.

The state and counsel appearing for the complainant opposed the original bail application, submitting that Subudhi was involved in the alleged offence and that, considering the gravity of the allegations, his bail plea should be rejected.

The High Court, however, noted that a substantial part of the investigation had already been completed and that Subudhi had been in custody since July 12. It further observed that nothing remained to be recovered or discovered from him. The court also took into consideration that Subudhi had no past criminal antecedents and that the prosecution had failed to point out circumstances warranting his continued or prolonged incarceration. It further noted that the trial would take time to commence and conclude.

Accordingly, on August 11, the High Court ordered Subudhi’s release on regular bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of the same amount. The bail was, however, subject to several conditions, including that he would not leave Gujarat without permission from the trial court and that he would surrender his passport.

Subudhi was also directed to mark his presence at the concerned police station once every month for six months and furnish his Aadhaar details, email ID and residential details to the investigating officer and the court. The bail order additionally contained a specific condition restraining him from dealing with confidential information belonging to Torrent Pharmaceuticals. Any breach of the undertaking would be considered a violation of the High Court’s order and could attract contempt proceedings.

On September 16, Subudhi again approached the High Court seeking deletion of the condition restricting his movement outside Gujarat. His lawyer submitted that Subudhi’s wife was suffering from various ailments and that his son had recently met with an accident. It was further submitted that there was no one at home to care for them and that Subudhi’s presence was therefore required. Although the state opposed the application, the High Court accepted the circumstances and held that his presence was necessary to attend to his family.

The High Court consequently partly allowed the application and suspended the condition preventing Subudhi from leaving Gujarat for one month from September 16. The court, however, did not permanently delete the restriction.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals is the flagship pharmaceutical company of the Ahmedabad-based Torrent Group. The company was conceived as a small generic pharmaceutical company in the early 1970s by late U N Mehta and has since grown into one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies. According to information available on its website, Torrent Pharma reported a turnover of Rs 13,980 crore in FY2026 and has a marketing presence in more than 50 countries globally. The company manufactures medicines across therapeutic segments including cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal and dermatological conditions. Its widely prescribed products include Alprax, an anxiety medication; NexPRO and Unienzyme for gastrointestinal indications; Ampoxin, an antibacterial formulation; Calcigard and Telday for hypertension; and Shelcal, a calcium-vitamin dietary supplement.

The Indian Express reports that the Gujarat High Court has therefore granted Subudhi temporary relief from the travel restriction, allowing him to leave the state for one month to attend to his family. The remaining bail conditions continue to apply.