Patna High Court
Soni DeviversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
Bail is granted to the petitioner with specified conditions.
Summary
Soni Devi was arrested in connection with the seizure of 138.475 litres of illicit liquor from a tempo and has been in custody since 14 February 2026. She applied for regular bail under section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, offering to donate Rs.25,000 to a charitable organization without admitting guilt. The State opposed the bail. The High Court, after considering the facts and the petitioner’s submission, granted bail on a bond of Rs.10,000 with two sureties of the same amount, conditioned on the deposit of Rs.25,000 in Ramakrishna Math and production of the receipt, and on the petitioner’s attendance at Barun Police Station on the first and third Sundays of each month. The order is limited to the bail application and does not prejudice the merits of the trial. The bail bonds will be cancelled upon any default in appearance.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the accused in an offence under section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act
- Whether the proposed charitable donation and surety amount are sufficient for bail
Subjects
- bail
- prohibition law
- illicit liquor
- surety
- charitable donation
- conditions of bail
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.21735 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-65 Year-2026 Thana- DEHRI TOWN District- Rohtas
======================================================
Soni Devi W/O Sanjay Kumar Resident of Village- Sone Nagar Kochadh,
P.S.- Barun, District- Aurangabad
... ... Petitioner
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner : Mr. Shashikant, Advocate
For the Opposite Party : Mr. Satyendra Prasad, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 07-04-2026 Heard the parties.
2. The petitioner seeks regular bail in
connection with Dehri Nagar P.S. Case No.65 of 2026
registered for the offence under section 30(a) of the Bihar
Prohibition and Excise Act.
3. The recovery is of 138.475 liters of illicit
liquor from a tempo.
4. The petitioner is in custody since
14.02.2026.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits
that the petitioner is ready to donate Rs.25,000/- in some
charitable organization without accepting his guilt.
6. Learned APP appearing for the State opposes
the prayer for bail of the petitioner.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.21735 of 2026(2) dt.07-04-2026
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7. Considering the facts and circumstances of
the case and also the submission of learned counsel for the
petitioner, let the petitioner, above named, be released on bail
upon furnishing bail bonds of Rs.10,000/- (ten thousand) with
two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the
learned concerned Court below in connection with Dehri Nagar
P.S. Case No.65 of 2026.
8. This is also subject to the condition that the
petitioner shall deposit an amount of Rs.25,000/- in
Ramakrishna Math, Village - Jharha (near Matua Pahar), P.O.-
Gurua, Dist. Gayaji, Bihar 824205 and produce the receipt of
the same before the Court below at the time of furnishing bail
bonds. The bail bonds of the petitioner shall be accepted after
verifying the genuineness of the receipt produced by him.
9. As a condition of this order, the petitioner
after being released on bail is directed to mark his attendance at
Barun Police Station, District-Aurangabad on first and third
Sunday of each month. Any default in appearance at the police
station will result in cancellation of bail bonds of the petitioner.
10. It is, however, clarified that the observations
made herein are limited to the adjudication of the present bail
application and shall not prejudice the case of the petitioner at
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.21735 of 2026(2) dt.07-04-2026
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any subsequent stage of the trial and this Court has not
expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.
(Sandeep Kumar, J)
pawan/-
U T
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