Patna High Court

Raman Kumar JhaversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 22 January 2026
Disposal: DISPOSED
Bench: SATYAVRAT VERMA

Holding

The petitioner is granted provisional anticipatory bail, subject to verification of his antecedent and compliance with the conditions imposed.

Summary

The petitioner, Raman Kumar Jha, was implicated in a case under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Excise Act for the alleged recovery of 40.800 litres of liquor from a motorcycle he owned. He argued that he had no prior criminal record, was not present at the spot of seizure, and was unaware that another individual, Monu, misused his vehicle. The State opposed his request for anticipatory bail. The High Court, after considering the submissions, granted provisional anticipatory bail subject to a modest bail bond and sureties, directing the trial court to verify 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 upon verification.

Issues considered

Whether the petitioner is entitled to anticipatory bail under Section 482(2) of the BNSS in a case under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Excise Act
Whether ownership of the vehicle used in the alleged offence creates sufficient grounds for arrest

Legislation cited

BNSS — s. 482(2)

Subjects

anticipatory bail
excise law
vehicle ownership
clean antecedent
Section 30(a)
Section 482(2)

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                              CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.84934 of 2025
                  Arising Out of PS. Case No.-83 Year-2025 Thana- EXCISE BIRAUL District- Darbhanga
                 ======================================================
                 Raman Kumar Jha Son of Krishn Deo Jha R/o Village - Adharpur, P.S. -
                 Ghanshayampur, Dist. - Darbhanga.

                                                                                 ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                      Versus
                 The State of Bihar

                                                        ... ... Opposite Party/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s     :      Mr.Kumar Praveen
                 For the Opposite Party/s :      Mr. Chandra Bhushan Prasad, APP
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
                                       ORAL ORDER

3   22-01-2026               1.    Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and

                   learned A.P.P. for the State, Sri Chandra Bhushan Prasad.

                             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 40.800 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.84934 of 2025(3) dt.22-01-2026
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          create evidence against himself and hence would get implicated,

          it is further submitted that petitioner was completely unaware

          that Monu would misuse the vehicle in the manner as alleged,

          who was also apprehended from the spot along with Nitish.

                   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 before the learned trial court

          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 Biraul

          Excise P.S. Case No. 83 of 2025, 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.84934 of 2025(3) dt.22-01-2026
                                                          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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