Patna High Court
Vishal KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
The Court ordered provisional anticipatory bail for the petitioner, subject to bond, sureties and verification of his criminal antecedent.
Summary
Vishal Kumar, the owner of a vehicle from which 243 litres of liquor were seized, sought anticipatory bail fearing arrest under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022. He argued he had a clean antecedent, was not in possession of the liquor, and was unaware that his friend misused his vehicle. The State opposed the bail. The High Court, considering these submissions, granted provisional anticipatory bail conditioned on a Rs.500 bond with two sureties and compliance with Section 438(2) of the Cr.P.C. and Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S. The court further directed the trial court to verify the petitioner’s criminal antecedent, confirming bail only if he is found to have a clean record.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner under Section 438 Cr.P.C.
- Whether ownership of the vehicle used in the alleged offence suffices to implicate the petitioner under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022
- Whether the petitioner’s alleged clean antecedent affects the confirmation of anticipatory bail
Legislation cited
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022 — s. 30(a)
- B.N.S.S. — s. 482(2)
- Criminal Procedure Code — s. 438(2)
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Section 30(a)
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act
- vehicle ownership
- liquor seizure
- criminal antecedent
- Cr.P.C. 438
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.39324 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-241 Year-2025 Thana- BARGAINIA District- Sitamarhi
======================================================
Vishal Kumar Son of Ramashish Sah Resident of Village- Saraiya, Ward No.
12, P.S.- Madhuban, District- East Champaran.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Subodh Kumar, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Md. Shakir Ahmad, A.P.P.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
ORAL ORDER
2 22-06-2026 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 the
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 243 litres of liquor from two motorcycles.
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 one of the seized vehicles. It is next submitted that no
prudent person would use his own vehicle for committing an
occurrence and, thus, would create evidence against himself
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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.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 Bargainia P.S. Case
No. 241 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 even one case,
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.39324 of 2026(2) dt.22-06-2026
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petitioner is a person with clean antecedent in that event the
provisional anticipatory bail order shall be confirmed forthwith.
(Satyavrat Verma, J)
Kundan/-
U T
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