Patna High Court
Prabhat KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
The application for anticipatory bail is allowed, granting provisional bail subject to conditions and verification of antecedents.
Summary
Petitioner Prabhat Kumar applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code in a case registered under Sections 30(a) and 41(i) of the Excise Act for alleged recovery of 361.875 litres of liquor from two vehicles. He argued that he has a clean antecedent, was not in possession of the liquor, and was implicated only because he owned one of the seized vehicles while his driver allegedly misused it. The State opposed the bail. The Court, after considering the submissions, directed that the petitioner be released on provisional anticipatory bail upon furnishing bail bonds of Rs.500 each with two sureties, subject to verification of his criminal antecedent. If any antecedent is found, the bail will not be confirmed; otherwise, it will be confirmed. The application was allowed.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to anticipatory bail under Section 438 CrPC in the context of alleged offences under the Excise Act.
- Whether ownership of the vehicle used in the alleged offence makes the owner liable for anticipatory bail denial.
Legislation cited
- Criminal Procedure Code — s. 438(2)
- Excise Act — s. 30(a), 41(i)
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Excise Act
- liquor seizure
- vehicle ownership
- criminal antecedent
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.37874 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-275 Year-2025 Thana- GUTHANI District- Siwan
======================================================
Prabhat Kumar S/o Vishnudeo Yadav Resident Of Village- Narepur West, P.S-
Bachhwara, District- Begusarai
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Saket Tiwary
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Anil Kumar Singh No. 1
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
ORAL ORDER
2 17-06-2026 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 41(i) 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 361.875 litres of liquor from two vehicles.
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 one of the
seized Maruti Suzuki vehicle. It is next submitted that no
prudent person would use his own vehicle for committing a
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.37874 of 2026(2) dt.17-06-2026
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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
Guthni P. S. Case No.275 of 2025, 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
found that petitioner has antecedent of even one case, then it
would be presumed that petitioner for the purposes of obtaining
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.37874 of 2026(2) dt.17-06-2026
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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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