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Patna High Court

Mukesh RayversusThe state of bihar

Decided
Disposal
DISPOSED

Holding

The court granted provisional anticipatory bail subject to bail bonds, sureties, and verification of the petitioner’s criminal antecedents.

Summary

Mukesh Ray, the owner of a tractor and an Ertiga car, was implicated in the recovery of 991.7 litres of liquor alleged to be in violation of Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022. He claimed he had a clean antecedent, was not present at the spot of seizure, and that his driver had misused the vehicles without his knowledge. The State opposed his request for anticipatory bail. The High Court, considering these submissions, granted provisional anticipatory bail on the condition that the petitioner furnish a bail bond of Rs.500 with two sureties of the same amount, and that the trial court verify his criminal antecedents. If any antecedent is found, the bail will not be confirmed; if he is found to have a clean record, the bail will be confirmed forthwith. The order was made under Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S.

Issues considered

  • Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner in a case under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022.
  • Whether ownership of the vehicle from which liquor was recovered implicates the owner in the offence.
  • Whether the petitioner’s claim of a clean antecedent and lack of knowledge of the driver’s actions warrants bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • anticipatory bail
  • prohibition law
  • liquor seizure
  • vehicle ownership
  • clean antecedent
  • Section 30
  • Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.38876 of 2026
                         Arising Out of PS. Case No.-133 Year-2026 Thana- MANER District- Patna
                 ======================================================
                 Mukesh Ray S/O Mansha Ray R/O Vill.- Brahmchari Pokhaar,P.S-
                 Maner,Dist- Patna

                                                                                   ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                        Versus
                 The state of bihar

                                                        ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :        Ms. Saumya
                 For the Opposite Party/s :        Mr. Md. Anzarul Haque Sahara
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   18-06-2026                  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 offence punishable under Section 30(a) of

                   Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022.

                                3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

                   petitioner is a person with clean antecedent and allegation is of

                   recovery of 991.7 litres of liquor from a tractor and an Ertiga

                   car. It is next submitted 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 tractor. It is next submitted that no

                   prudent person would use his own vehicle for committing an

                   occurrence and thus would create evidence against himself and
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.38876 of 2026(2) dt.18-06-2026
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          hence would get implicated. It is also submitted that the

          petitioner was completely unaware that his driver would misuse

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

                       4. Learned A.P.P. for the State opposes the prayer for

          anticipatory bail of the petitioner.

                       5. Considering the submissions made by the learned

          counsel for the petitioner, 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.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 Maner P.S. Case No.133/2026, subject to the

          conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S.

                       6. It is made clear that the learned trial court thereafter

          shall verify the criminal antecedents of the petitioner and in the

          event if it is found that petitioner has antecedent of even one

          case, in that event, it would be presumed that petitioner had

          concealed his antecedent before this court, as such, the

          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
             Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.38876 of 2026(2) dt.18-06-2026
                                                         3/3




                       shall be confirmed forthwith.



                                                 (Satyavrat Verma, J)
amit/-

U        T


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