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Patna High Court

Amit Kumar @ Amit PaswanversusThe State of Bihar

Decided
Disposal
DISPOSED

Holding

The Court granted provisional anticipatory bail subject to bond, sureties and verification of the petitioner’s criminal antecedent.

Summary

Amit Kumar, the owner of a scooter from which 80 litres of liquor was seized, sought anticipatory bail fearing arrest under Sections 30(a) and 32(3) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act. He argued that he was not in possession of the liquor, was unaware of his friend’s misuse of the vehicle, and that ownership alone should not create criminal liability. The State opposed the bail. The Court, after considering the submissions, granted provisional anticipatory bail on the condition that the petitioner furnish a bail bond of Rs.20,000 with two sureties and that the trial court verify his criminal antecedent. If more than four prior cases are found, the bail will not be confirmed; if only four are found, the bail will be confirmed. The order is subject to the conditions of Section 438(2) of the Cr.P.C. and Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S.

Issues considered

  • Whether the petitioner is entitled to anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code in a case of alleged possession of liquor under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act
  • Whether ownership of the vehicle used in the alleged offence creates a presumption of guilt
  • Effect of the petitioner’s prior criminal antecedent on the grant of anticipatory bail

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • anticipatory bail
  • excise law
  • vehicle ownership
  • criminal antecedent
  • Section 438 CrPC
  • Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.38053 of 2026
                       Arising Out of PS. Case No.-1308 Year-2025 Thana- Excise P.S. District- Gaya
                 ======================================================
                 Amit Kumar @ Amit Paswan Son of Ganauri Paswan Resident of Village-
                 Bhadeja PS - Muffasil, Dist- Gaya
                                                                     ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                   Versus
                 The State of Bihar
                                                              ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :        Mr. Sudhir Kumar Sinha, Advocate
                 For the Opposite Party/s :        Mr. Abhay Kumar, A.P.P.
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   17-06-2026                  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 offences punishable under Sections 30(a) and

                   32(3) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.

                                3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

                   petitioner has antecedent of four cases under the Excise Act and

                   allegation is of recovery of 80 litres of liquor from a Scooty.

                                4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

                   petitioner was not arrested from the spot, as such, nothing was

                   recovered from his conscious possession. It is further submitted

                   that petitioner came to be implicated based on the fact that he is

                   owner of the seized vehicle. It is further submitted that no

                   prudent person would use his own vehicle for committing an

                   occurrence and, thus, would create evidence against himself
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.38053 of 2026(2) dt.17-06-2026
                                            2/3




          and, hence, would get implicated. It is also submitted that

          petitioner was completely unaware that his friend would misuse

          the vehicle in the manner as alleged who also fled from the spot.

                       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.20,000/-

          (Rupees Twenty 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 Gaya Excise P.S.

          Case No. 1308 of 2025, subject to the conditions as laid down

          under Section 438(2) of the Cr.P.C./482(2) of the B.N.S.S.

                       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 four

          cases, 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
           Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.38053 of 2026(2) dt.17-06-2026
                                                       3/3




                     petitioner has antecedent of only four cases in that event the

                     provisional anticipatory bail order shall be confirmed forthwith.


                                                                          (Satyavrat Verma, J)

Kundan/-

U     T


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