Ankit Kumar @ Ankit Singh v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.7038 of 2022 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-377 Year-2021 Thana- BALIYA District- Begusarai ====================================================== Ankit Kumar @ Ankit Singh Son Of Late Kundan Singh Resident Of VillageSadipur Karari, P.S.- Ballia, District- Begusarai ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

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

Mr.Sanjay Kumar Sharma, 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 defect(s), as pointed out by the office, within a period of four weeks after restoration of normalcy. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Ballia P.S. case No.377 of 2021 registered under Sections 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. The prosecution case, in short, is that 3.375 liters wine is recovered from the house of co-accused and 26.625 liters

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.7038 of 2022(2) dt.17-02-2022 2/3 wine is recovered from the house of the petitioner. 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 falsely been implicated in this case. The name of the petitioner has transpired in this case as the alleged recovery is made from the joint house of the petitioner where the other family members also reside. Except for this, there is no other substantive evidence to suggest the implication of the petitioner in this case. It is alleged that 3.375 liters wine is recovered from the house of co-accused and 26.625 liters wine is recovered from the joint house of the petitioner. The petitioner had no knowledge regarding the alleged incident. Nothing incriminating has been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner. 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 complaint case/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

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.7038 of 2022(2) dt.17-02-2022 3/3 that the condition of jails is not conducive and suitable to the present situation which has arisen due to the sudden rise in covid cases.

Considering the facts and circumstances, 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 Special Judge, Excise Act, Begusarai in connection with Ballia P.S. case No.377 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) Narendra/- U T