Sukesh Kumar @ Sukesh Kumar Mahto v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.15151 of 2024 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-110 Year-2023 Thana- Excise P.S. District- Madhubani ====================================================== Sukesh Kumar @ Sukesh Kumar Mahto Son of Sukhdev Mahto Resident of Village - Navtoli Mukhiyapatti, P.S. - Saharghat, District - Madhubani ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Ravi Prakash, Adv For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr. Gulnar Begum, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA PRAKASH SINGH ORAL ORDER 07-03-2024 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.

2. The Petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Benipatti Excise P.S. Case No. 110 of 2023 dated 09.11.2023 of the offences punishable u/s 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act 2018.

3. As per the prosecution case, total 180 litres of illicit Nepali liquor was recovered from the motorcycle.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in this case. The petitioner has two criminal antecedents as stated at para 3 of the bail petition. The petitioner is not the owner of the said vehicle and the same was not being driven by the

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.15151 of 2024(2) dt.07-03-2024 2/3 petitioner at the time of the alleged recovery. The name of the petitioner was disclosed by the apprehended person. No incriminating article has been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner, hence no case is made out. Learned Counsel has relied on the judgment of Full Bench of Hon'ble Patna High Court in the case of Ram Vinay Yadav vs. State of Bihar reported in 2019 (2) PLJR 1089. The Full Bench in the case of Ram Vinay Yadav (supra) has held that an application for anticipatory bail in a case arising out of Bihar Excise and Prohibition Act can be maintained, despite the bar under Section 76 (2) of the Act, if on the basis of allegation made in the FIR, no offence under the said provision is made out.

5. Learned A.P.P. for the State has vehemently opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail of the petitioner by submitting that the bar of Section 76(2) of the Act applies in this case.

6. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case as well as the nature of allegation against the petitioner, let the above named petitioner, in the event of his arrest/surrender within a period of six weeks from today, be enlarged on anticipatory bail on furnishing bail-bond of Rs. 20,000/- (Rupees twenty thousand) with two sureties of the like

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.15151 of 2024(2) dt.07-03-2024 3/3 amount each to the satisfaction of the learned court concerned, Madhubani in connection with Benipatti Excise P.S. Case No. 110 of 2023 subject to conditions as laid down under section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

7. This application stands allowed.

(Chandra Prakash Singh, J) jyoti/- U T