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Patna High Court

Bhola SahaniversusThe State of Bihar

Decided
Disposal
BAIL GRANTED

Holding

Bail was granted to the petitioner as the recovery of liquor was not shown to be from his conscious physical possession.

Summary

The petitioner, Bhola Sahani, was arrested in connection with a case alleging illegal manufacturing and trading of illicit liquor under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022, after 124.5 litres of liquor were recovered from a motorcycle. The petitioner contended that the seized liquor was not in his physical possession and that the seizure list lacked independent witnesses, emphasizing his clean antecedent. The State opposed bail, arguing the seriousness of the offence. The court examined the factual submissions and noted the lack of direct possession, finding the allegation prima facie weak. Consequently, the court ordered the petitioner’s release on bail with a bond of Rs. 10,000 and two sureties, subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Issues considered

  • Whether the petitioner was in actual possession of the seized illicit liquor.
  • Whether the seizure list is reliable and supported by independent evidence.
  • Whether bail should be granted in a case under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • bail
  • illicit liquor
  • possession
  • seizure
  • clean antecedent
  • prohibition act

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.36748 of 2026
                     Arising Out of PS. Case No.-261 Year-2025 Thana- GHORASAHAN District- East
                                                       Champaran
                 ======================================================
                 Bhola Sahani Son of Bipat Sahani Resident of Village- Naryanpur
                 (Harinarayanpur, Narayanpu), Ward No. 04, P.S.- Ghorasahan, District- East
                 Champaran.                                                ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                 Versus
                 The State of Bihar.                              ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :      Mr.Ajay Kumar Singh, Advocate
                 For the Opposite Party/s :      Mr.Shailendra Kumar, APP
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA SHEKHAR JHA
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   08-06-2026                  Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the

                   petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on

                   behalf of the State.

                                2. The accused/petitioner apprehending his arrest in

                   connection with Ghorasahan P.S. Case No.                     261 of 2025

                   registered for the offences punishable under Section 30(a)                     of

                   the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022.

                                3. The allegation against the petitioner is to be

                   engaged in illegal trading/manufacturing of illicit liquor, where,

                   there is recovery of 124.50 litres of IMFL/Nepali liquor from the

                   motorcycle.

                                4. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the

                   petitioner submitted that admittedly the recovery of illicit liquor

                   was not made from physical possession of this petitioner. It is
              Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.36748 of 2026(2) dt.08-06-2026
                                                          2/2




                        pointed out that the seizure list appears doubtful being not

                        supported by independent witnesses. Petitioner claimed clean

                        antecedent.

                                     5. Learned APP opposed the prayer of bail.

                                     6. In view of aforesaid factual submission and by

                        taking note of fact as recovery of illicit liquor prima facie not

                        appears to be made from the conscious physical possession of

                        this petitioner, who is a man of clean antecedent, accordingly,

                        above named petitioner, in the event of his arrest or surrender

                        before the learned trial Court, within a period of four weeks of

                        the order, is directed to be released on bail furnishing bail bond

                        of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the

                        like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Exclusive

                        Special     Excise     Court     No.    3    I/C,    East   Champaran   at

                        Motihari/concerned Court, where the case is pending in

                        connection with Ghorasahan P.S. Case No. 261 of 2025, subject

                        to the conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of the BNSS.



                                              (Chandra Shekhar Jha, J)
veena/-

U         T


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