Patna High Court
MehruddinversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
Provisional anticipatory bail is granted subject to bond, sureties, and verification of the petitioner's antecedent.
Summary
Mehruddin, the owner of a motorcycle from which 342 litres of liquor were allegedly recovered, feared arrest under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Excise Act. He argued that he had a clean antecedent, was not in possession of the liquor, and that his friend, who fled the scene, misused the vehicle without his knowledge. The State opposed his request for anticipatory bail. The Court, considering these submissions, granted provisional anticipatory bail on the condition that Mehruddin furnish a bail bond of Rs. 500 with two sureties and that the trial court verify his criminal antecedent. If any prior case is discovered, the provisional bail will not be confirmed; otherwise, it will be confirmed forthwith. The order is subject to the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of the BNSS.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to anticipatory bail in a case under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Excise Act
- Whether ownership of the vehicle used in the alleged offence makes the petitioner liable
- Whether a clean criminal antecedent is a prerequisite for granting anticipatory bail
Legislation cited
- Bihar Excise Act — s. 30(a)
- BNSS — s. 482(2)
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Bihar Excise Act
- section 30(a)
- vehicle ownership
- clean antecedent
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.44523 of 2026
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-107 Year-2026 Thana- Excise P.S. District- Araria
======================================================
Mehruddin S/o Late Bechu Resident of Village- Kamaldaha, ward number-
06, P.S.- Kursakanata, District- Araria
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Gopal Kumar Jha
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr.Dr. Kumar Uday Pratap
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
ORAL ORDER
2 08-07-2026 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 Section 30(a) of the
Bihar Excise Act.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner is a person with clean antecedent and allegation is of
recovery of 342 litres of liquor from a motorcycle.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
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
vehicle. It is next submitted that no prudent person would use
his own vehicle for committing an occurrence and thus would
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.44523 of 2026(2) dt.08-07-2026
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create evidence against himself and hence would get implicated,
it is further 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 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 Araria Excise P.S. Case No. 107 of 2026
subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of
the BNSS.
7. It is made clear that thereafter the learned Trial Court
shall verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner and in the
event if it is found that petitioner has antecedent of even one case
then it would be presumed that petitioner, for the purposes of
seeking anticipatory bail, had concealed his antecedent before this
Court, as such, the provisional anticipatory bail order shall not be
confirmed, but after verification if it is found that petitioner is a
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.44523 of 2026(2) dt.08-07-2026
3/3
person with clean antecedent in that event the provisional
anticipatory bail order shall be confirmed forthwith.
(Satyavrat Verma, J)
Sumit/-
U T
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