Murli Paswan v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.4037 of 2019 ====================================================== Murli Paswan, S/o Dukhan Paswan Resident of Village- Kahariadih, P.S.- Birni, Distt- Giridih (Jharkhand) ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary of Excise Department, Government of Bihar, Patna 2.

The Principal Secretary of Bihar Transport Department, Government of Bihar, Patna 3.

The Collector, Lakhisarai 4.

The Officer-in-Charge, Chalisnu dal, (Sub Inspector), Dist- Lakhisarai 5.

The Superintendent Excise, Lakhisarai, Dist- Lakhisarai ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Amrendra Kumar For the Respondent/s :

Mr.Anil Kr. Sinha (Ga1) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ARVIND SRIVASTAVA ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN) Date : 07-03-2019 Heard.

The prayer is for provisional release of Mahindra Pick-up Van bearing Registration No. JH02AS 8189, which has been seized in connection with Lakhisarai Excise Case No. 46C2 of 2018 for the offences punishable under Sections 30 (a), 32(i), 36, 38(i), 41 (i), 42 (ii) and 56(d) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.

It is informed by learned counsel for the State

2/4 that confiscation proceeding is yet to be initiated and the vehicle is lying under the open sky in the police station. The seizure list reflects the seizure of 178.560 liters of IMFL. Having heard learned counsel for the State 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 with respect to vehicle in question in his name before the Court below with one (local) surety along with 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 future. (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

3/4 confiscation proceeding, if any, and shall not alienate the vehicle during this period.

(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 got 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 along with the bank guarantee to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance amount and the undertakings 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

4/4 the Court below subject to final decision in the confiscation proceedings.

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

(Jyoti Saran, J) ( Arvind Srivastava, J) Shailendra/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 16.03.2019 Transmission Date NA