Madhu Ranjan Kumar v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.23082 of 2018 ====================================================== Madhu Ranjan Kumar, son of Indu Singh, resident of village Jhauwaram Karsahiya Dhaka, P.S. Dhaka, District East Champaran ... ... Petitioner

Versus

1. The State Of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Excise Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna

2. The Director General of Police, Bihar, Patna

3. The Superintendent of Police, East Champaran

4. The District Magistrate cum Collector, East Champaran

5. The Dy. Superintendent of Police, East Champaran

6. The S.H.O. Kundwa Chainpur P.S. District East Champaran ... ... Respondents ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Ansul For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Anil Kr.Sinha -Ga1 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANJANI KUMAR SHARAN ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN) Date : 26-04-2019 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State.

The petitioner prays for provisional release of the TVS Apache motorcycle bearing registration No. BR05X 2886, Engine No. BE4HH2132151, Chasis No. MD634BE41H2H32920, which has been seized in connection with Excise Case No. 577/2018 for the offences punishable under sections 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

It is stated by learned counsel for the petitioner that 54 litres of Nepali liquor has been seized; the confiscation proceeding

2/4 is yet to be initiated and the vehicle is lying under the open sky in the police station. The seizure list supports the seizure of the vehicle and 54 litres of Nepali 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 yet to be initiated, we direct that the vehicle in question be released provisionally in favour of the petitioner on production of ownership and registration papers with respect to vehicle in question before the designated court below with one local surety alongwith a Bank Guarantee or original title deed of immovable property situated within the District to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance document. The petitioner while submitting the surety and the Bank Guarantee or the original title deed, as the case may be, 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.

3/4 (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 court below 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.

The release shall be allowed within a period of 14 days from the date of production of ownership/registration papers supporting the claim of the petitioner together with one surety (local) alongwith the Bank Guarantee or title deed of immovable property situated in the district, to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance document and the undertaking, as stated above. This release would, however, be subject to initiation and finalization of the confiscation proceeding. The title deed papers shall remain in safe custody of the designated court below subject to final decision in the confiscation proceedings.

4/4 With the observations above, this writ petition is allowed.

(Jyoti Saran, J) ( Anjani Kumar Sharan, J) Surendra/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 07.05.2019 Transmission Date NA