Patna High Court

Karu Singh @ Santosh SinghversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 18 April 2026
Disposal: BAIL GRANTED
Bench: SATYAVRAT VERMA

Holding

The Court ordered the release of the petitioner on bail upon furnishing the prescribed bond and sureties.

Summary

The petitioner, Karu Singh, was charged under Sections 338, 336(3) and 318(4) of the Bihar Narcotic Substances Act and Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022 for allegedly recovering 166.125 litres of liquor from a Bolero. He was not arrested at the scene, no liquor was found in his conscious possession, and he is not the owner of the vehicle, the prosecution’s case being based on secret information. The petitioner, who has a clean antecedent, has been in custody since 8 February 2026 and sought regular bail, assuring cooperation with the trial. The State opposed the bail on the ground of the seriousness of the offences. The Court, after considering the submissions, held that the lack of direct possession and the petitioner’s clean record warranted bail. Accordingly, the petitioner was ordered to be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs.5,000 and two sureties of the same amount.

Issues considered

Whether bail should be granted in offences punishable under Sections 338, 336(3), 318(4) of the Bihar Narcotic Substances Act and Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022.
Whether the absence of conscious possession and ownership of the seized vehicle affects the grant of bail.
Whether the seriousness of the alleged liquor‑related offences precludes regular bail.

Legislation cited

Bihar Narcotic Substances Act — s. 318(4), 336(3), 338

Subjects

bail
criminal procedure
liquor seizure
possession
Bihar law
dangerous offences

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.19472 of 2026
                 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-518 Year-2025 Thana- NAWADA MUFFASIL District- Nawada
                 ======================================================
                 Karu Singh @ Santosh Singh Son of Vijay Singh R/o At - Bhaur, P.S.-
                 Rajauli, Dist.- Nawada.
                                                                      ... ... Petitioner/s
                                              Versus
                 The State of Bihar
                                                               ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :      Mr. Amit Ranjan, Advocate
                 For the Opposite Party/s :      Mr. Arun Kumar, A.P.P.
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   18-04-2026                  1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and

                   learned A.P.P. for the State.

                                2. The petitioner seeks bail in a case registered for the

                   offences punishable under Sections 338, 336(3) and 318(4) of

                   the BNS as well as Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and

                   Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022.

                                3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

                   petitioner is a person with clean antecedent and allegation is of

                   recovery of 166.125 litres of liquor from a Bolero.

                                4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

                   petitioner was not arrested from the spot, as such, nothing was

                   recovered from his conscious possession. It is further submitted

                   that petitioner is not the owner of the seized vehicle and came to

                   be implicated based on the secret information which is the

                   easiest way to implicate someone without holding a proper
           Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.19472 of 2026(2) dt.18-04-2026
                                                       2/2




                     investigation of the case. It is next submitted that petitioner is in

                     custody since 08.02.2026 and if the privilege of regular bail is

                     granted to the petitioner, the petitioner will not abscond rather

                     will cooperate in the trial to prove his innocence.

                                  5. Learned A.P.P. for the State opposes the prayer for

                     regular bail of the petitioner.

                                  6. Considering the submissions made by the learned

                     counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, the petitioner,

                     above-named, is directed to be released on bail on furnishing

                     bail bonds of Rs.5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand) with two

                     sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned

                     Trial Court where the case is pending in connection with

                     Nawada Mufassil P.S. Case No. 518 of 2025.


                                                                          (Satyavrat Verma, J)

Kundan/-

U     T

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