Gujarat HC grants interim relief to folk artist Devayat Khavad, extends surrender deadline till Feb 23

Gujarat High Court has provided interim relief to renowned Gujarati folk artist and dayro performer Devayat Khavad in a case involving the cancellation of his anticipatory bail. The court extended the time frame for Khavad to surrender till February 23, 2026.

The controversy stems from an FIR registered at Changodar Police Station, where complainant Dhruvraj Chauhan alleged that Khavad accepted ₹8 lakh as advance payment to perform a dayro (traditional folk performance) at a death anniversary event in the complainant's village.

Khavad allegedly failed to appear for the programme and later threatened the complainant with dire consequences, including threatning to kill him.

Initially, on March 18, 2025, the Ahmedabad Rural and District Court granted anticipatory bail to Khavad in connection with the cheating and criminal intimidation charges lodged at Changodar Police Station.

However, the complainant sought cancellation of the bail, citing subsequent developments. The court noted that Khavad was also accused in a related case at Talala Police Station, where he threatened the complainant of Changodar case and allegedly tried to influence evidence in an ongoing trial. The investigating officer from Changodar Police Station supported the bail cancellation through an affidavit, describing it as a supervening circumstance indicating misuse of liberty granted under anticipatory bail.

On November 11, 2025, the Ahmedabad Rural District Court cancelled Khavad's anticipatory bail and directed him to surrender within 30 days.

Challenging this order, Khavad approached the Gujarat High Court seeking restoration of anticipatory bail or further protection. The high court, while hearing the plea, granted interim relief extending the surrender period till February 23.