Patna High Court
Amit KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
The court held that anticipatory bail is to be granted provisionally, subject to verification of the petitioner’s antecedent and compliance with bail conditions.
Summary
Amit Kumar, the owner of a pick‑up van, was implicated in a case under Sections 30(a) and 56(b) of the Excise Act for the alleged recovery of 155.76 litres of liquor. He applied for anticipatory bail, contending that he had a clean antecedent, was not arrested at the spot, and had no conscious possession of the liquor, the driver being the alleged offender. The State opposed the bail. The Patna High Court, applying Section 438(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, granted provisional anticipatory bail on the condition that the petitioner furnish bail bonds and two sureties, and that the trial court verify his antecedent. The order stipulated that if any prior case is discovered, the bail would be withdrawn; otherwise, it would be confirmed.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner under Section 438(2) CrPC.
- Whether the petitioner’s lack of conscious possession and clean antecedent justify bail.
Legislation cited
- Criminal Procedure Code — s. 438(2)
- Excise Act — s. 30(a), 56(b)
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Excise Act
- Section 30
- Section 56
- Criminal Procedure Code
- Section 438
- clean antecedent
- provisional bail
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.32615 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-11 Year-2019 Thana- GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL COMP.
District- Kishanganj
======================================================
Amit Kumar S/o Ramesh Yadav R/vill- Bailhari, Ward no. 10 P.O- Baihari,
P.S.- Singhesar, Distt- Madhepura
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Jainendra Kumar
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Lakshmi Kant Sharma
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
ORAL ORDER
4 22-06-2026 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and
learned APP for the State.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in anticipation of his
arrest in a case registered for the offences punishable under
Sections 30(a) and 56(b) of the Excise Act.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
the petitioner is a person with clean antecedent and allegation is
of recovery of 155.76 litres of liquor from a pick-up van.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner was not arrested from the spot, as such, nothing was
recovered from his conscious possession and he came to be
implicated based on the fact that he is owner of the seized van.
It is next submitted that no prudent person would use his own
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.32615 of 2026(4) dt.22-06-2026
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vehicle for committing a crime and thus, would create evidence
against himself and hence, would get implicated. It is further
submitted that petitioner was completely unaware that his driver
would misuse the vehicle in the manner as alleged who also fled
from the spot.
5. Learned A.P.P. opposes the anticipatory bail
application.
6. Considering the submissions made by the learned
counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner, above-named, in the
event of his arrest or surrender before the learned Court below
within a period of six weeks, is directed to be released on
provisional anticipatory bail on his furnishing bail-bonds in the
sum of Rs.500/- (Rupees Five Hundred) 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
Special Excise P.S. Case No.140 of 2019 bearing P.R. No.11 of
2019, subject to the conditions laid down under Section 438(2)
of the Cr.P.C.
7. The application stands allowed.
8. It is made clear that the learned trial Court after
accepting the provisional bail bonds of the petitioner shall verify
the criminal antecedent of the petitioner and in the event, if it is
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.32615 of 2026(4) dt.22-06-2026
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found that petitioner has antecedent of even one case, then it
would be presumed that petitioner for the purposes of obtaining
anticipatory bail had concealed his antecedent before this Court,
in that event, the present provisional anticipatory bail order shall
not be confirmed, but if on verification, it is found that
petitioner is a person with clean antecedent, in that event, the
provisional anticipatory bail order shall be confirmed forthwith.
(Satyavrat Verma, J)
vikash/-
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