Patna High Court
Ranjeet RayversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL REJECTED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
Anticipatory bail was denied.
Summary
The petitioner, Ranjeet Ray, sought anticipatory bail fearing arrest in a case (Raghopur PS Case No. 69 of 2020) under sections 30(a)(d) and 41 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Amendment Act, 2018, alleging manufacturing and sale of country‑made liquor. The FIR, lodged on 18‑02‑2022, was based on an informant’s claim that 60 litres of illicit liquor were recovered near the Ganga. The petitioner argued that he was implicated only because of prior criminal antecedents and that no liquor was found in his possession. The State opposed, noting the case dates back to 2022, the petitioner’s earlier bail application was rejected in 2024, and he delayed approaching the High Court for two years. The Court held that no relief could be granted and rejected the anticipatory bail application, directing that if the petitioner surrenders within four weeks, the matter will be taken up by the concerned court for disposal.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted to the petitioner under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Amendment Act, 2018 in the present circumstances
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Amendment Act
- illicit liquor
- criminal antecedent
- FIR
- bail denial
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.25745 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-69 Year-2020 Thana- RAGHOPUR District- Vaishali
======================================================
Ranjeet Ray son of Panchi Ray Resident of Village -Sukumarpur Police
Station- Raghopur District -Vaishali
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Akash Kumar Mishra, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Damodar Prasad Tiwary, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
2 22-04-2026 Heard the parties.
2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in
connection with Raghopur P.S. Case No. 69 of 2020 for the
offence under sections 30(a) (d), 41 of the Bihar Prohibition and
Excise Amendment Act, 2018, lodged on 18.02.2022 by the
informant, Shubhnarayan Prasad Yadav.
3. As per the prosecution story, the informant
alleged that on secret information of the petitioner indulged in
manufacturing and sell of country-made liquor raided the place
near river Ganga and recovered 60 litres of country-made liquor.
This led to the FIR.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
only because of criminal antecedent, he has been implicated in
this case. He further submits that nothing has been recovered
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.25745 of 2026(2) dt.22-04-2026
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from his conscious possession
5. Learned APP opposes the prayer submitting that
the matter is of the year 2022, admittedly, he moved before the
learned Session Judge in the year 2024, it was rejected but again
waited for two years before coming to this Court.
6. Considering the aforesaid fact as also no relief
can be extended, the instant anticipatory bail application has
been rejected
7. If, however, the petitioner surrenders within four
weeks, the concerned Court shall take up the matter and dispose
it of preferably on the same day.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
sanjeev/-
U T
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