Patna High Court
Ranjit Kumar @ Ranjeet KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- R P MISHRA
Holding
The court granted bail to the petitioner.
Summary
The petitioner, Ranjit Kumar, was arrested in connection with a case alleging possession of 331.20 liters of foreign liquor in a vehicle, contravening Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act. He claimed innocence, stating he was unaware of the liquor and that no incriminating material was found in his possession, and highlighted his clean criminal record. The prosecution opposed bail, while the petitioner’s counsel argued lack of evidence and non‑compliance of Section 103 of the BNSS, 2023. The court considered the petitioner’s clean antecedent, short period of custody, and the circumstances of the case. It granted bail on a bond of Rs.15,000 with two sureties, imposing conditions regarding family surety and appearance in court.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the accused under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act considering the facts and the non‑compliance of Section 103 of the BNSS, 2023
Legislation cited
- BNSS, 2023 — s. 103
Subjects
- bail
- prohibition
- excise
- foreign liquor
- Section 30(a)
- Bihar
- clean antecedent
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.11998 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-20 Year-2025 Thana- MUSRIGHRARI District- Samastipur
======================================================
Ranjit Kumar @ Ranjeet Kumar S/o Ram Pravesh Singh Resident of Village-
Ward No. 05, Fatehpur Bala, P.S.- Musrigharari, District- Samastipur
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Manish Kumar, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Sanjay Kumar Sharma, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RUDRA PRAKASH
MISHRA
ORAL ORDER
2 23-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned APP
for the State.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with
Musrigharari PS Case No. 20 of 2025 instituted for the offences
under Section/s 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
3. The prosecution case, in short, is that 331.20 liters
foreign liquor was recovered from car.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the
present case. No incriminating material has been recovered from
the conscious possession of the petitioner. The petitioner has got
no concern with the alleged recovery of liquor. It is submitted
that name of the petitioner has surfaced in this case as being
owner of the vehicle in question and he was oblivious of the fact
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.11998 of 2026(2) dt.23-02-2026
2/2
that illicit liquor was laden in the vehicle. The petitioner is in
custody since 19.01.2026 and has got no criminal antecedent/s.
There is no compliance of Section 103 of the BNSS, 2023.
5. Learned A.P.P. for the State has vehemently
opposed the prayer for grant of bail to the petitioner.
6. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances
of the case, clean antecedent of the petitioner and the period of
custody undergone by the petitioner, this Court is inclined to
grant bail to the petitioner.
7. Let the petitioner be released on bail on furnishing
bail bonds of Rs.15,000/- (Fifteen thousand) with two sureties
of the like amount each to the satisfaction of Court
below/concerned Court in connection with Musrigharari PS
Case No. 20 of 2025, subject to the following conditions:
(I) One of the bailors shall be own/close member of the
family of the petitioner.
(II) The petitioner shall appear on each and every date
fixed at the trial. In case of default in such appearance on two
consecutive dates, the Trial Court will have liberty to cancel the
bail bonds of the petitioner.
(Rudra Prakash Mishra, J)
Raj Kishore/-
U T
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