Patna High Court
Ranjeet Paswan @ Ranjit PaswanversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL REJECTED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
Anticipatory bail was denied to the petitioner.
Summary
The petitioner, Ranjeet Paswan, sought anticipatory bail fearing arrest in a case registered under Sections 8(c), 21 and 22(a) of the NDPS Act concerning the alleged recovery of 25.75 litres of liquor and drug injections from a hut associated with five accused persons. The petitioner argued that he was not arrested on the spot and that the only link to him was a confessional statement made by a co‑accused, Ganesh, which he claimed lacked evidentiary value. The State opposed the bail, emphasizing that the investigation was ongoing, the offences were serious under the NDPS Act, and the co‑accused’s statement implicated the petitioner. The Court considered the seriousness of the NDPS offences and the reliance on the co‑accused’s statement and concluded that anticipatory bail could not be granted. Consequently, the petition for anticipatory bail was rejected.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted to the petitioner under the NDPS Act for alleged possession of liquor and drug injections.
- Whether a confessional statement of a co‑accused has sufficient evidentiary value to justify denial of anticipatory bail.
Legislation cited
- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act — s. 21, 22(a), 8(c)
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- NDPS Act
- drug possession
- liquor possession
- confessional statement
- bail denial
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.11972 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-976 Year-2025 Thana- KANKARBAG District- Patna
======================================================
Ranjeet Paswan @ Ranjit Paswan S/O Late Arjun Paswan R/O Village-
Jhoparpatti, Kankarbagh, Thana Road, Lohianagar, P.S- Kankarbagh, Distt.-
Patna.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Ms.Khushi Awadh
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Manoj Kumar
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
ORAL ORDER
2 24-02-2026 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and
learned A.P.P. for the State.
2. The petitioner apprehends his arrest in connection
with Kankarbagh P.S. Case No. 976 of 2025 registered for the
offences punishable under Section 8(c), 21, 22(a) of the NDPS
Act.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner has antecedent of one case and allegation is of
recovery of 25.75 litres of liquor from hut of five accused
persons along with several pieces of drug injection from
possession of Ganesh.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner was not arrested from the spot as such nothing was
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.11972 of 2026(2) dt.24-02-2026
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recovered from his conscious possession and his name
transpired in the confessional statement of apprehended-accused
in police custody which does not have any evidentiary value.
5. Learned A.P.P. for the State opposes the prayer for
anticipatory bail of the petitioner and submits that the case has
been instituted under the NDPS Act; and apart from recovery of
liquor, it is alleged that drug injections were also recovered from
the possession of Ganesh; and Ganesh in his confessional
statement disclosed the name of the petitioner and investigation
in the case is continuing.
6. Considering the submission made by learned APP,
the Court is not inclined to extend the privilege of anticipatory
bail to the petitioner.
7. Accordingly, the prayer for anticipatory bail of the
petitioner is rejected.
(Satyavrat Verma, J)
Sumit/-
U T
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