Murari Rai v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.744 of 2019 ====================================================== Murari Rai, Son of Anirudh Rai, Resident of Village- Shukulpura, Police Station- Karahgar, District- Rohtas at Sasaram ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Registration, Excise and Prohibition Department, Government of Bihar, Patna. 2.

The District Magistrate-cum-Confiscation Officer, Rohtas at Sasaram. 3.

The Superintendent of Police, Rohtas at Sasaram. 4.

The Station House Officer, Sasaram Town (Muffasil) Police Station. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Raghunandan Kumar Singh, Adv.

For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Kumar Manish, SC-5 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANJANI KUMAR SHARAN ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN) Date : 06-05-2019 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State.

The petitioner prays for provisional release of the Scorpio vehicle bearing registration No. BR-02P-8687, Engine No. MJC4A446090, Chasis No. MA1TA2MJNC2A19351 which has been seized in connection with Sasaram Town (Muffasil) Police Station Case No.1561 of 2017, District Rohtas for the offences punishable under sections 30(a), 35, 38 and 37(b) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

It is stated by learned counsel for the petitioner that 5.250 litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor has been seized; the confiscation proceeding is pending and the vehicle is lying under the open sky in the police station. The seizure list supports the

Patna High Court CWJC No.744 of 2019 dt.06-05-2019 2/3 seizure of the Scorpio vehicle and 5.250 litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor.

Having heard learned counsel for the parties and taking note of the nature of seizure made as well as the fact that the confiscation proceeding is pending, we direct that the vehicle in question be released provisionally in favour of the petitioner on production of ownership and registration with respect to vehicle in question in his name before the Collector cum District Magistrate, Rohtas at Sasaram with two sureties to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance document. The petitioner while submitting the sureties shall also furnish the following affidavits/ undertakings:

(i) That the vehicle in question has never been involved in any offence of similar nature in past and shall not indulge in similar offence in further.

(ii) That the petitioner shall not indulge in creating any third party right or interest in respect of the vehicle during the pendency of the confiscation proceeding and shall not alienate the vehicle during this period.

(iii) The petitioner shall furnish an undertaking to produce the vehicle before the confiscating authority as and when required.

(iv) Prior to release of the vehicle, a Panchanama would be prepared by the Collector cum District Magistrate, Rohtas at Sasaram wherein the photograph of the vehicle shall be taken and will be certified by the petitioner and the same shall be kept on record so that in future if so required, it may be used as a secondary evidence. The petitioner shall furnish an undertaking not to challenge the said Panchanama in course of trial.

Patna High Court CWJC No.744 of 2019 dt.06-05-2019 3/3 The release shall be allowed within a period of 14 days from the date of submission of the sureties and the undertakings as stated above, which would however be subject to finalization of the confiscation proceeding.

With the observations above, this writ petition is allowed.

(Jyoti Saran, J) ( Anjani Kumar Sharan, J) skpathak/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 20.05.2019 Transmission Date NA