Patna High Court
Ranjit Mehta @ Ranjeet Mehta @ Ranjit KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
The Court granted bail, directing the petitioner’s release upon furnishing a bond of Rs.5,000 with two sureties.
Summary
The petitioner, Ranjit Mehta, was arrested in connection with the alleged recovery of 378 litres of liquor from three motorcycles, an offence punishable under Section 30 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022. He has five prior criminal cases and has been in custody since 16 February 2026. Counsel argued that Mehta was not arrested at the spot, had no conscious possession of the liquor, and was not the owner of the seized vehicles, claiming he was implicated by a watchman with whom he had a hostile relationship. The State opposed regular bail. Considering these submissions, the Court ordered his release on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs.5,000 with two sureties of the same amount, subject to the satisfaction of the trial court.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail should be granted to the accused in a case under Section 30 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022 despite prior criminal antecedents.
- Whether the absence of conscious possession and ownership of the seized vehicles justifies bail.
Subjects
- bail
- Section 30
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act
- liquor seizure
- criminal procedure
- prior cases
- regular bail
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.21463 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-241 Year-2025 Thana- BHAPTIAHI District- Supaul
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Ranjit Mehta @ Ranjeet Mehta @ Ranjit Kumar Son of Parmeshwar Mehta
Resident of Village- Karhari Kalyanpur, Ward No. 9, P.S.- Bhaptiyahi,
District- Supaul
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Prasoon Kumar, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Pradeep Narain Kumar, A.P.P.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
ORAL ORDER
2 10-04-2026 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
offence punishable under Section 30 of the Bihar Prohibition
and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner has antecedent of five cases and is in custody since
16.02.2026 and allegation is of recovery of 378 litres of liquor
from three different motorcycles.
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 any of the seized vehicles and
came to be implicated at the instance of the Chawkidar with
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.21463 of 2026(2) dt.10-04-2026
2/2
whom he is on an inimical term.
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 S.T.
Excise Case No. 1252 of 2025 arising out of Bhaptiyahi P.S.
Case No. 241 of 2025.
(Satyavrat Verma, J)
Kundan/-
U T
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