Patna High Court
Manoj Kahar @ Monaj KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
The Court conditionally granted provisional anticipatory bail, subject to bond, sureties and verification of the petitioner’s antecedent.
Summary
Manoj Kahar was implicated in a case under Sections 30(a) and 32(3) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act for the alleged recovery of two litres of liquor from a motorcycle he owned. He contended that he had a clean antecedent, was not in actual possession of the liquor, and was unaware that the vehicle was being misused by another person. The State opposed his request for anticipatory bail. The High Court, after considering the submissions, granted provisional anticipatory bail on the condition that the petitioner furnish a bail bond of Rs.500 with two sureties and that the trial court verify his criminal antecedent. The order further stipulated that if any antecedent is discovered, the bail would not be confirmed; otherwise, it would be confirmed forthwith.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail can be granted in a case involving alleged possession of liquor under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
- Whether ownership of the vehicle used in the alleged offence is sufficient to attract criminal liability.
- Whether the petitioner’s clean antecedent is a condition for confirming anticipatory bail.
Legislation cited
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act — s. 30(a), 32(3)
- B.N.S.S. — s. 482(2)
- Criminal Procedure Code — s. 438(2)
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act
- criminal antecedent
- vehicle ownership
- Section 438
- Section 482
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.39327 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-1064 Year-2025 Thana- Excise P.S. District- Kishanganj
======================================================
Manoj Kahar @ Monaj Kumar S/o Ganesh Kahar R/o Village - Moharmari,
Bagalbari, P.S. - Kochadhaman, District - Kishanganj.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ram Prawesh Kumar, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Parmanand Prasad, 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 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 is a person with clean antecedent and allegation is of
recovery of 2 litres of liquor from a motorcycle.
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 next submitted that no prudent
person would use his own vehicle for committing an occurrence
and, thus, would create evidence against himself and, hence,
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.39327 of 2026(2) dt.22-06-2026
2/3
would get implicated. It is also submitted that petitioner was
completely unaware that Raju would misuse the vehicle in the
manner as alleged who was also apprehended from the spot
alogn with Nagesh.
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 Madya Nisedh P.S.
Case No. 1064 of 2025 giving rise to Special Case No. 1082 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
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.39327 of 2026(2) dt.22-06-2026
3/3
application in that event the provisional anticipatory bail order
shall not be confirmed but if it is found on verification that
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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