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Patna High Court

Ramesh MahtoversusThe State of Bihar

Decided
Disposal
DISPOSED

Holding

The Court provisionally granted anticipatory bail to the petitioner, subject to bail bonds, sureties, and verification of his antecedent.

Summary

The petitioner, Ramesh Mahto, sought anticipatory bail after a case was registered against him under Sections 274 and 275 of the Bihar Narcotic Substances Act and Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act for allegedly possessing 8.4 litres of liquor recovered from a motorcycle he owned. He argued that he had no prior criminal record, the liquor was not found in his immediate possession, and he was unaware that another individual, Ramesh Mishra, would misuse his vehicle. The State opposed the bail, contending that the allegations warranted arrest. The Court granted provisional anticipatory bail, subject to a bail bond of Rs.500 with two sureties and conditions under Section 438(2) of the Cr.P.C. and Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S., pending verification of the petitioner’s antecedent. The order stipulated that if any prior case is discovered, the bail would not be confirmed; otherwise, it would be confirmed immediately.

Issues considered

  • Whether the petitioner is entitled to anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code in view of the allegations under Sections 274 and 275 of the Bihar Narcotic Substances Act and Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
  • Whether the petitioner’s clean antecedent and lack of immediate possession of the seized liquor justify the grant of anticipatory bail.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • anticipatory bail
  • Section 438 CrPC
  • clean antecedent
  • vehicle ownership
  • Bihar Narcotic Substances Act
  • Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act
  • bail conditions

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.40539 of 2026
                   Arising Out of PS. Case No.-50 Year-2026 Thana- MADHWAPUR District- Madhubani
                 ======================================================
                 Ramesh Mahto Son of Late Ram Chandra Mahto Resident of Village
                 -Singhwari PS- Katra Distt -Muzaffarpur
                                                                  ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                   Versus
                 The State of Bihar
                                                           ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :      Mr. Ratnakar Jha, Advocate
                 For the Opposite Party/s :      Mr. Ajay Kumar Jha, A.P.P.
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   23-06-2026                  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 274 and

                   275 of the BNS as well as Section 30(a) 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 8.4 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
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.40539 of 2026(2) dt.23-06-2026
                                            2/3




          and, thus, would create evidence against himself and, hence,

          would get implicated. It is also submitted that petitioner was

          completely unaware that Ramesh Mishra would misuse the

          vehicle in the manner as alleged who was also apprehended

          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 Madhvapur P.S.

          Case No. 50 of 2026, 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.40539 of 2026(2) dt.23-06-2026
                                                       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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