Manejar Rai @ Manager Rai v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.4342 of 2022 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-214 Year-2021 Thana- MOHAMMADPUR District- Gopalganj ====================================================== MANEJAR RAI @ MANAGER RAI S/o Late Bhola Rai Resident of Village - Ghogharaha, P.S. - Mohammadpur, District - Gopalganj. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

THE STATE OF BIHAR ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Radha Mohan Singh For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr.Mritunjay Kumar Nirala, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR SINGH ORAL ORDER 11-02-2022 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. Learned counsel for the petitioner is directed to remove the defect(s), as pointed out by the office, within a period of four weeks after restoration of normalcy. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the State through virtual mode.

The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Mohammadpur P.S. Case No. 214 of 2021 registered for the offence under Section-30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2018.

The prosecution case, in short, is that 880 liters spirit

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.4342 of 2022(2) dt.11-02-2022 2/3 and 95.04 litres 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 petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is alleged that 880 liters spirit and 95.04 litres wine is recovered from a boat. The petitioner is not owner of the boat, in question. The name of the petitioner has transpired in this case on the basis of disclosure made by local chowkidar. Except for this, there is no other substantive evidence to suggest the implication of the petitioner in the present case. 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

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.4342 of 2022(2) dt.11-02-2022 3/3 present situation which has arisen due to the sudden rise in covid cases.

Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case, the petitioner, above named, in the event of arrest or surrender before the learned court below within a period of twelve weeks from today, be released on anticipatory bail on his personal bond to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-II-cum-Special Judge, Excise Act, Gopalganj in connection with Mohammadpur P.S. Case No. 214 of 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) A.K.V.//- U T