Patna High Court
Rahul Nut @ Rahul NatversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
Provisional anticipatory bail was granted, subject to verification of the petitioner’s antecedent cases, with non‑confirmation if more than one antecedent is found.
Summary
The petitioner, Rahul Nut, sought anticipatory bail fearing arrest in a case under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act for alleged recovery of 105 litres of liquor from a village area not in his possession. He argued that the recovery was from a public place, that he was implicated by a hostile chawkidar, and that the police had not conducted a proper investigation. The State opposed the bail. The Court, applying Section 438(2) of the Cr.P.C. and Section 482(2), granted provisional anticipatory bail on the condition of a Rs.5,000 bond with two sureties, subject to verification of the petitioner’s criminal antecedents. The order stipulated that if more than one antecedent is found, the bail would not be confirmed; if only one antecedent is verified, the bail would be confirmed. Thus, the petitioner was released provisionally pending further verification.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Cr.P.C. in a case under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
- Whether the alleged recovery of liquor from a place not in the petitioner’s possession negates grounds for arrest.
- Whether the petitioner’s criminal antecedents affect the confirmation of anticipatory bail.
Legislation cited
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act — s. 30(a)
- Criminal Procedure Code — s. 438(2), 482(2)
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- excise offence
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act
- Section 30(a)
- Criminal Procedure Code
- Section 438
- Section 482
- criminal antecedent
- police investigation
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.31167 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-182 Year-2026 Thana- MADHAURAH District- Saran
======================================================
Rahul Nut @ Rahul Nat S/o Sanjay Nat R/o vill - Pakahan Nut Toli, P.S.-
Marhowrah, Distt.- Saran at Chapra
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Dewendra Narayan Singh, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Renuka Ratnakar, A.P.P.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
ORAL ORDER
3 29-06-2026 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and
learned A.P.P. for the State.
2. The petitioner apprehends his arrest in a case
registered for the offence punishable under Section 30(a) of the
Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner has antecedent of one case under the Excise Act and
allegation is of recovery of 105 litres of liquor from Pakahan
Nut Toli.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner was not arrested from the spot, as such, nothing was
recovered from his conscious possession and even the alleged
recovery is from a place which does not belong to the petitioner
and is accessible to villagers at large. It is further submitted that
petitioner came to be implicated at the instance of the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.31167 of 2026(3) dt.29-06-2026
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Chawkidar with whom he is on an inimical term. It is next
submitted that if the Chawkidar was aware of the involvement
of the petitioner in the occurrence then why he did not inform
the police prior to the institution of the instant FIR which casts
an aspersion on the case of the prosecution. It is also submitted
that once an accused is implicated in a case relating to excise the
police start implicating mechanically either at the instance of the
Chawkidar, local person, confessional statement or secret
information without holding a proper investigation of the case.
5. Learned A.P.P. for the State opposes the prayer for
anticipatory bail of the petitioner.
6. Considering the submissions made by the learned
counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, let the petitioner,
above-named, in the event of his arrest or surrender within a
period of six weeks from today, be released on provisional
anticipatory 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/Successor Court in connection with Marhowrah
(Marhowrah) P.S. Case No. 182 of 2026, subject to the
conditions as laid down under Section 438(2) of the
Cr.P.C./482(2) of the B.N.S.S.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.31167 of 2026(3) dt.29-06-2026
3/3
7. However, it is made clear that thereafter the learned
Trial Court shall verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner
and if it is found that petitioner has antecedent of more than one
case, it would be presumed that petitioner had concealed his
antecedent before this Court at para 3 of the anticipatory bail
application in that event the provisional anticipatory bail order
shall not be confirmed but if it is found on verification that
petitioner has antecedent of only one case in that event the
provisional anticipatory bail order shall be confirmed forthwith.
(Satyavrat Verma, J)
Kundan/-
U T
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