Saurav Kumar @ Saurabh Kumar @ Paltu v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.4216 of 2022 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-469 Year-2021 Thana- HAJIPUR SADAR District- Vaishali ====================================================== SAURAV KUMAR @ SAURABH KUMAR @ PALTU S/o Sri Vinod Chaudhary @ Munna Chaudhary R/o village- Daulatpur, Dewariya, P.S.- Hazipur, District- Vaishali at Hazipur ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

The State Of Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Vinod Kumar, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr.Surendra Kumar, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR SINGH ORAL ORDER 17-02-2022 Due to the third wave of COVID-19 Pandemic, the matter is being taken up by way of Virtual Court proceeding. The matter has been listed under the heading 'For Orders' under the orders of Hon'ble the Chief Justice. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned APP for the State through virtual mode.

Learned counsel for the petitioner is directed to remove the defects, as pointed out by the Office, within a period of four weeks after restoration of normalcy.

The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in a case registered under Sections 414, 420 of the Indian Penal Code and 30(a), 36 and 41(1) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.4216 of 2022(2) dt.17-02-2022 2/3 The prosecution case, in short, is that 880.920 liters wine is recovered.

It has been submitted on behalf of the petitioner that there is no allegation of tampering of witnesses alleged against the petitioner. The name of the petitioner has transpired on the basis of disclosure made by the local Chowkidar. Except for this, there is no other substantive evidence to suggest the implication of the petitioner in this case. It is alleged that 880.920 liters wine is recovered from the pick-up van in question. Nothing incriminating has been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner. The petitioner had no knowledge regarding the alleged incident. There is no compliance of Section 100 Cr.P.C.

On behalf of the State, it is submitted that the petitioner is named in the F.I.R.

It is necessary to indicate here that this Court while considering the prayer made in the present anticipatory bail application has taken note of the exponential rise in number of covid cases due to outbreak of third wave of Covid-19 pandemic. Further this Court can also not lose sight of the fact that the condition of jails is not conducive and suitable to the present situation which has arisen due to the sudden rise in

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.4216 of 2022(2) dt.17-02-2022 3/3 covid cases.

Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the petitioner, above named, in the event of arrest/surrender before the learned court below within a period of twelve weeks from today, be released on anticipatory bail on his personal bonds to the satisfaction of learned Special Judge, Excise, Vaishali at Hazipur in connection with Hazipur Sadar P.S. Case No. 469/2021, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Once the normalcy is restored, the petitioner shall furnish bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each within a period of eight weeks to the satisfaction of the Court concerned in connection with the aforesaid case.

(Sudhir Singh, J) Pankaj/- U T