Ramnath Lal Rastogi v. The State Of Bihar Through The Principal Secretary, Excise Department And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Criminal Writ Jurisdiction Case No.460 of 2018 ====================================================== Ramnath Lal Rastogi, S/o Surya Lal Rastogi, R/o Mohalla- Mirgiyachak, Ward No. 9, Khagaria, Near Main Post Office- Khagaria, P.S. & DistrictKhagaria. .... .... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

2. The District Magistrate, Begusarai.

3. The Superintendent of Police, Begusarai.

4. The S.H.O. Sahebpur Kamal, District- Begusarai. .... .... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ram Sumiran Rai For the Respondent/s : Mr. Vivek Prasad ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJEEV RANJAN PRASAD ORAL ORDER 14-03-2018 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel representing the State.

Petitioner has prayed for release of the vehicle Scorpio bearing Reg.No.WB-74-P-4315, which has been seized by the police in connection with Sahebpur Kamal P.S. Case No.164 of 2017, District-Begusarai for the offence under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. It is alleged that two bottles of foreign liquor each containing 375 ml have been recovered from the vehicle in question.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is ready and willing to abide by the terms and conditions which may be imposed by this Court for provisional release of the

Patna High Court Cr. WJC No.460 of 2018 (2) dt.14-03-2018 vehicle in question.

In the facts and circumstances, pending initiation or finalization of the confiscation proceeding, let the vehicle of the petitioner be provisionally released within one week from the date of production of proof of ownership and registration of the vehicle in his favour subject to the following conditions:- (i) Petitioner shall furnish surety bond of Rs.5,00,000/- (five lakhs) (not in form of bank guarantee or cash) with two sureties of the like amount to the satisfaction of court below or the authority concerned.

(ii) The petitioner shall also give an undertaking that he will not deal with the vehicle in question and shall not alienate or encumber the same creating any kind of adverse interest against the interest of the State, he will not use the vehicle for any illegal purpose and as and when required, he will produce the vehicle in question before the competent court/authority.

(iii) At the time of release, the concerned authority/court shall get prepared a photograph duly certified in presence of the petitioner and

Patna High Court Cr. WJC No.460 of 2018 (2) dt.14-03-2018 panchnama of the vehicle in question shall also be prepared and keep the same on record which may be used as secondary evidence.

(iv) Petitioner undertakes not to challenge the said photograph and panchnama so prepared in his presence at the time of release of vehicle in question for use in course of trial or the confiscation proceeding, as the case may be.

The application stands disposed of.

(Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, J) Arvind/- U T