Patna High Court
Pankaj Sahni @ Pankaj Kumar SahaniversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
The court granted regular bail to the petitioner subject to a bail bond and a condition to deposit Rs. 25,000 with a charitable organization.
Summary
Petitioner Pankaj Sahni was arrested on 13 March 2026 in connection with the recovery of 103 litres of illicit liquor, alleged to be an offence under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2022. He claimed innocence, clean antecedents, and offered to donate Rs. 25,000 to a charitable organization as part of his bail undertaking. The State opposed the bail, but the court, after considering the custody period and submissions, granted regular bail. The court ordered the petitioner to furnish a bail bond of Rs. 10,000 with two sureties of the same amount and to deposit the Rs. 25,000 donation with the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, producing a receipt. The order was made on a prima facie basis, without prejudice to the merits of the trial.
Issues considered
- Whether regular bail should be granted to the accused in an offence under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2022.
- Whether the petitioner poses a risk of fleeing, tampering with evidence, or influencing witnesses.
Legislation cited
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2022 — s. 30(a)
Subjects
- bail
- regular bail
- criminal procedure
- illicit liquor
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act
- Section 30(a)
- donation condition
- court order
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.33371 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-87 Year-2026 Thana- ISUAPUR District- Saran
======================================================
Pankaj Sahni @ Pankaj Kumar Sahani S/o Jitendra Sahani R/o Village -
Charihara, P.S - Mashrakh, District - Saran at Chapra
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Dewendra Narayan Singh, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Renuka Ratanakar (App125)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 19-06-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned
A.P.P. for the State.
2. The present application has been filed seeking
regular bail in connection with Isuapur P.S. Case No. 87 of
2026, registered for the offences punishable under Section 30(a)
of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2022.
3. As per the prosecution case, there is a recovery of
103 litres of illicit liquor.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
the petitioner is quite innocent and has committed no offence.
The petitioner is in custody since 13.03.2026 and claims clean
antecedent. The petitioner undertakes to donate a sum of Rs.
25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand Only) to a charitable
organization, without prejudice to his defence and without
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.33371 of 2026(2) dt.19-06-2026
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admitting guilt.
5. Learned A.P.P. for the State opposed the prayer for
bail.
6. Having considered the facts and circumstances of
the case, the period of custody and the submissions advanced on
behalf of the parties, the application for regular bail is allowed.
7. Accordingly, the petitioner is directed to be released
on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees Ten
Thousand Only) with two sureties of the like amount each to the
satisfaction of the learned Court concerned where the case is
pending/successor court in connection with Isuapur P.S. Case
No. 87 of 2026, subject to the following conditions:-
(i) The petitioner shall
deposit a sum of Rs. 25,000/-
(Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand
Only) with Ramakrishna Mission
Ashrama, Latu Maharaj Path ,
Opp. Circuit House, Chapra,
Bihar 841301 and shall produce a
valid receipt thereof before the
court below. The bail bonds shall
be accepted only after verification
of the genuineness of the said
receipt.
8. It is made clear that any observation made herein is
prima facie in nature and limited solely for the purpose of
adjudication of the present bail application. Such observations
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.33371 of 2026(2) dt.19-06-2026
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shall not be construed as an expression on the merits of the case
and shall not influence the trial or any other proceedings in any
manner.
(Sandeep Kumar, J)
sadique/-
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