Lal Munni Devi v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.8386 of 2019 ====================================================== Lal Munni Devi W/o Late Chandra Shekhar Rai, R/o Village- Rampur Baghel, P.S.- Desari, Dist.- Vaishali. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

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

2.

The District Magistrate, Vaishali, Hajipur.

3.

The Superintendent of Police, Vaishali, Hajipur. 4.

The O/C, Ganga Bridge Police Station Vaishali, Hajipur. 5.

The C.O. Sahdei Bujurg, P.S.- Sahdei, O.P., District- Vaishali. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Man Mohan Kumar For the Respondent/s :

Mr.Vivek Prasad (Gp7) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHA SARTHY ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN) Date : 02-07-2019 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State. The petitioner prays for provisional release of the Mahindra Pick Up Van bearing Registration No. BR1AG/3705 Chassis No. MAIRZ2GAA71G36043, Engine No. GA71G23585 which has been seized in connection with Ganga Bridge P.S. Case No. 89 of 2018 for the offences punishable under Sections 414/34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 30(A) of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. Counsel for the petitioner submits that the vehicle in question is registered in the name of the deceased husband of the petitioner. It is further submitted that the confiscation

Patna High Court CWJC No.8386 of 2019 dt.02-07-2019 2/3 proceeding is pending and the vehicle is lying under the open sky in the police station. The seizure list supports the seizure of the Mahindra Pick Up Van and 17.625 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 pending, 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 her name before the District Magistrate, Vaishali at Hajipur with two sureties to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance document. The petitioner while submitting the sureties 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

Patna High Court CWJC No.8386 of 2019 dt.02-07-2019 3/3 when required.

(iv) Prior to release of the vehicle, a Panchanama would be prepared by the District Magistrate, Vaishali at Hajipur 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 submission of the sureties and the undertakings as stated above. This release would however, be subject to initiation and finalization of the confiscation proceeding if any.

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