Patna High Court
Sunil MandalversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL GRANTED
- Bench
- RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
Holding
The court held that due to the petitioner’s clean antecedent and the non‑compliance of Sections 103 and 105 of the BNSS 2023, bail should be granted.
Summary
Sunil Mandal was arrested on 3 May 2026 in connection with a case involving the alleged illegal possession of 300 litres of Nepali liquor, charged under Sections 274 and 275 of the Bihar Narcotic Substances Act (BNSS) and Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition & Excise Act. The petitioner argued that he has a clean antecedent, that the seized liquor was recovered from the place of occurrence and not from his conscious possession, and that the investigation violated Sections 103 and 105 of the BNSS, 2023. The State opposed bail. The court, noting the lack of direct possession, the petitioner’s clean record, and the procedural lapses, ordered his release on bail with a bond of Rs. 10,000 and two sureties, subject to conditions of cooperation, appearance, and non‑tampering with evidence. The bail bond is to be verified by the Special Judge Excise, Madhubani, and may be cancelled on breach of conditions.
Issues considered
- Whether bail should be granted when the accused is alleged to be involved in offences under Sections 274, 275 of BNSS and Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition & Excise Act.
- Whether non‑compliance of Sections 103 and 105 of the BNSS, 2023, warrants the grant of bail.
- Whether the fact that the seized liquor was not found in the accused’s conscious possession affects the bail decision.
Legislation cited
- Bihar Narcotic Substances Act — s. 103, 105
- Bihar Prohibition & Excise Act — s. 30(a)
Subjects
- bail
- narcotic offences
- excise
- procedural compliance
- seizure
- clean antecedent
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.39392 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-72 Year-2026 Thana- MADHWAPUR District- Madhubani
======================================================
Sunil Mandal S/o Maheshwar Mandal R/o - Bhima Makresar, P.S - Pupari,
District - Sitamarhi
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar Patna
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Akbar Ali, APP
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR VERMA
ORAL ORDER
2 23-06-2026 Heard Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, learned counsel for
the petitioner and Mr. Akbar Ali, learned APP for the State.
2. Petitioner seeks bail, who is in custody since
03.05.2026, in connection with Madhwapur P.S. Case No. 72 of
2026, F.I.R. dated 03.05.2026 registered for the offences
punishable under Sections 274, 275 of the B.N.S. and Section
30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition & Excise Act.
3. Recovery is of 300.00 litres of Nepali country
made liquor.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner has clean antecedent and he has been falsely
implicated in the present case. He further submits that it
appears from the F.I.R. as well as seizure list that nothing has
been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.39392 of 2026(2) dt.23-06-2026
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rather recovery has been made from the place of occurrence and
petitioner has been made accused merely on the basis of
suspicion and except the suspicion, nothing has come during
investigation to suggest the involvement of the petitioner in the
present occurrence. It appears from the seizure list that the
seizure list witnesses are police personnel so there is non-
compliance of Sections 103 and 105 of BNSS, 2023 and the
petitioner is in custody since 03.05.2026.
5. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the
State has vehemently opposed the prayer for bail of the
petitioner.
6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case
and the fact that the petitioner having clean antecedent and
nothing has been recovered from the conscious possession of
the petitioner and there is non-compliance of Sections 103 and
105 of the BNSS, 2023, let the petitioner, above named, be
released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees
Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the
satisfaction of learned Exclusive Special Judge Excise,
Madhubani in connection with Madhwapur P.S. Case No. 72 of
2026, subject to the following conditions :-
(1) Petitioner shall co-operate in the trial and shall be
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.39392 of 2026(2) dt.23-06-2026
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properly represented on each and every date fixed by the Court
and shall remain physically present as directed by the Court and
on his absence on two consecutive dates without sufficient
reason, his bail bond shall be cancelled by the Court below.
(2) If the petitioner tampers with the evidence or the
witness, in that case, the prosecution will be at liberty to move
for cancellation of bail.
(3) And, further condition that the court below shall
verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner and in case at
any stage, it is found that the petitioner has concealed his
criminal antecedents, the court below shall take step for
cancellation of bail bond of the petitioner. However, the
acceptance of bail bonds in terms of the above-mentioned order
shall not be delayed for purpose of or in the name of
verification.
(Rajesh Kumar Verma, J)
Ibrar//-
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