Patna High Court
Bikram MahaldarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- BAIL REJECTED
- Bench
- SATYAVRAT VERMA
Holding
The Court denied anticipatory bail to the petitioner.
Summary
Bikram Mahaldar applied for anticipatory bail fearing arrest in a case under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Excise Act read with Sections 25(1‑b)a, 26 and 35 of the Arms Act. The prosecution alleges that liquor, a motorcycle, a country‑made pistol and three live cartridges were recovered, but none were found in Mahaldar's possession; the charge is based mainly on a confessional statement of a co‑accused, Rahul, made while in police custody. Mahaldar's counsel highlighted his seven prior excise cases and argued the lack of physical possession and the inadmissibility of the confessional statement. The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offences, the prior record, and the risk of absconding or tampering with evidence. The Court, after considering the submissions, declined to grant anticipatory bail, finding the risk and antecedent history sufficient to reject the application.
Issues considered
- Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner given the nature of the offences under the Bihar Excise Act and Arms Act, the lack of seized possession, and the reliance on a confessional statement of a co‑accused.
- Whether the petitioner’s antecedent criminal record and the possibility of tampering with evidence justify denial of anticipatory bail.
Legislation cited
- Arms Act — s. 25(1-b)a, 26, 35
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Bihar Excise Act
- Arms Act
- confessional statement
- antecedent criminal record
- criminal procedure
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.88058 of 2025
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-422 Year-2025 Thana- KATIHAR NAGAR District- Katihar
======================================================
Bikram Mahaldar S/o Yogendra Mahaldar Resident of Mohalla Naya Tola,
P.S.- Katihar Town, District- Katihar
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Raghvendra Kumar Singh, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Sucheta Yadav
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SATYAVRAT VERMA
ORAL ORDER
3 20-01-2026 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 read with Sections 25(1-b)a, 26 and 35 of the
Arms Act.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner has antecedent of seven cases under the excise act and
allegation is of recovery of 23.97 liters of liquor from a bag along
with a motorcycle and one country made pistol along with three
live cartridges.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
petitioner was not apprehended from the spot as such nothing was
recovered from his conscious possession and he came to be
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.88058 of 2025(3) dt.20-01-2026
2/2
implicated based on confessional statement of Rahul in police
custody which does not have any evidentiary value. It is asserted
and submitted that cartridges and arms were not recovered from
the possession of the petitioner.
5. Learned A.P.P. for the State vehemently opposes the
anticipatory bail application and submits that petitioner has
antecedent of seven cases and allegation is of recovery of country
made pistol along with three live cartridges from the place of
occurrence and the name of the petitioner transpired in the
confessional statement of Rahul. It is next submitted that in the
event if privilege of anticipatory bail is granted to the petitioner,
the petitioner may abscond or try to tamper with the evidence.
6. Considering the submissions made by the learned
APP for the State, the Court is not inclined to extend the privilege
of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.
7. Accordingly, the instant anticipatory bail
application stands rejected.
(Satyavrat Verma, J)
Rishabh/-
U T
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