Pankaj Kumar v. The State Of Bihar Through The Principal Secretary, Department Of Bihar Prohibition And

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.8102 of 2019 ====================================================== Pankaj Kumar Son of Late Vijay Kumar Singh Resident of Village-Rahtoli, P.S.-Hathauri, District-Samastipur ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

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

The Collector Cum Distr4ict Magistrate, Samastipur 3.

The Senior Superintendent of Police, Samastipur 4.

The Officer-in Charge of Hathauri Police Station, District Samastipur ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Anil Kumar For the Respondent/s :

Mr.Anil Kumar Sinha (Ga1) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHA SARTHY ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN) Date : 28-06-2019 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State.

The petitioner prays for provisional release of the Tata 207 pick-up van bearing registration No. BR06T3373, Engine No. 4975P28HQZ624291, Chasis No. MAT37446399H20177, which has been seized in connection with Hathauri P.S. Case No. 113 of 2018 for the offences punishable under sections 272 and 273 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 47 and 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

It is stated by learned counsel for the petitioner that 928.800 litres of IMFL has been seized; the confiscation proceeding is yet to be

Patna High Court CWJC No.8102 of 2019 dt.28-06-2019 2/3 initiated and the vehicle is lying under the open sky in the police station. The seizure list supports the seizure of the vehicle and 928.800 litres of IMFL.

Having heard learned counsel for the parties 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 papers with respect to vehicle in question before the designated court below with one surety alongwith 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 confiscation proceeding 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.

Patna High Court CWJC No.8102 of 2019 dt.28-06-2019 3/3 (iv) Prior to release of the vehicle, a Panchanama would be 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 alongwith the Bank Guarantee or title deed of immovable property situated in the district, to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance document and the undertaking, 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 the designated court below subject to final decision in the confiscation proceedings.

With the observations above, this writ petition is allowed. (Jyoti Saran, J) ( Partha Sarthy, J) sushma/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE Uploading Date 08.07.2019 Transmission Date