Patna High Court
Raviranjan KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
Holding
Bail was granted to the petitioner subject to a bond of Rs 10,000 and specified conditions.
Summary
Raviranjan Kumar was arrested on 12 March 2026 in connection with the seizure of 736.200 litres of Nepali liquor, alleged to violate Sections 30(a), 37, 41 and 47 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act Amendment Act, 2022. The petitioner argued that he had no conscious possession of the liquor, was not the owner of the vehicles from which it was seized, and had a clean criminal record, noting that a similarly situated co‑accused had already been granted bail. The State opposed bail. The Court, considering the lack of direct possession, the petitioner's clean antecedent and the precedent of bail to the co‑accused, ordered his release on bail upon furnishing a Rs 10,000 bond with two sureties and imposed conditions regarding cooperation, presence in court, and non‑tampering with evidence. The bail order was directed to be implemented by the Special Judge of the Exclusive Excise Court, Muzaffarpur.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted to the accused under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2022, given the nature of the offence and the facts of the case
- Whether the absence of conscious possession and a clean antecedent justify bail despite the seriousness of the seizure
Subjects
- bail
- prohibition and excise law
- seizure of liquor
- criminal antecedent
- conditions of bail
- excise offence
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.29688 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-71 Year-2026 Thana- KARJA District- Muzaffarpur
======================================================
Raviranjan Kumar Son of Late Jagarnath Thakur Resident of village - Arra,
P.S.- Panapur Kariyat, District - Muzaffarpur
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Sanjay Kumar S.K., Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Ms.Sucheta Yadav, A.P.P.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
ORAL ORDER
2 04-05-2026 Heard Mr.Sanjay Kumar S.K., learned counsel for
the petitioner and Ms.Sucheta Yadav, learned A.P.P. for the
State.
2. The petitioner seeks bail, who is in custody since
12.03.2026 in connection with Karza P.S. Case No. 71 of 2026,
F.I.R. dated 11.03.2026 registered for the offence punishable
under Sections 30(a), 37, 41, 47 of Bihar Prohibition and
Excise Act Amendment Act, 2022.
3. Recovery is of 736.200 liters of Nepali liquor.
4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner
submits that the petitioner has clean antecedent. It appears from
the FIR as well as the seizure list that nothing has been
recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner rather
the recovery has been made from the vehicles in question and
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.29688 of 2026(2) dt.04-05-2026
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petitioner is not the owner of the vehicles in question and he has
been made accused in the present case merely on the basis of
suspicion and similarly situated co-accused person, namely,
Styanam Singh @ Satnam Singh has been granted bail by a
Coordinate Bench of this Hon’ble Court vide order dated
21.04.2026 passed in Cr. Misc. No.26626 of 2026 and the
petitioner is in custody since 12.03.2026.
5. Learned APP for the State has opposed the prayer
for bail of the petitioner.
6. Considering the aforesaid fact, petitioner has clean
antecedent, nothing has been recovered from the conscious
possession of the petitioner and similarly situated co-accused
person, namely, Styanam Singh @ Satnam Singh has been
granted bail by a Coordinate Bench of this Hon’ble Court, let
the petitioner, above named, be released on bail on furnishing
bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten Thousand) with two sureties of
the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Special
Judge, Exclusive Excise Court No.-II, Muzaffarpur in
connection with Karza P.S. Case No. 71 of 2026, with the
following conditions:-
(I) Petitioner shall co-operate in the trial and shall be
properly represented on each and every date fixed by the Court
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.29688 of 2026(2) dt.04-05-2026
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and shall remain physically present as directed by the Court and
on his/her absence on two consecutive dates without sufficient
reason, his/her bail bond shall be cancelled by the Court below.
(II) If the petitioner tampers with the evidence or the
witnesses, in that case, the prosecution will be at liberty to move
for cancellation of bail.
(III) And, further condition that the court below shall
verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner and in case at
any stage, it is found that the petitioner has concealed his
criminal antecedent, the court below shall take step for
cancellation of bail bond of the petitioner. However, the
acceptance of bail bonds in terms of the above-mentioned order
shall not be delayed for purpose of or in the name of
verification.
(Rajesh Kumar Verma, J)
Nitesh/-
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