Sudarshan Singh v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.9663 of 2019 ====================================================== Sudarshan Singh Son of Dip Chand Singh Resident of Sohwaliya, P.S. Karghar, District-Rohtas ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

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

2.

The District Magistrate, Rohtas, District Rohtas 3.

The Superintendent of Police, District Rohtas 4.

The S.H.O. of Dawath P.S, District-Rohtas ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Sanjay Kumar Tiwary, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr.Kumar Manish (Sc5) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHA SARTHY ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN) Date : 22-07-2019 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State.

The petitioner prays for provisional release of the Bolero bearing registration No. BR03P8971 Engine No. GPE4C77900 and Chassis No. MA1PS2GPKE5C59517 which has been seized in connection with Dawath P.S. Case No. 156 of 2018 for the offence punishable under sections 30(a), 35 and 38 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

It is submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that 27 litres of IMFL is alleged to be recovered from the place near to

Patna High Court CWJC No.9663 of 2019 dt.22-07-2019 2/3 which the vehicle in question was parked. No recovery has been made from the vehicle in question. The confiscation proceeding is yet to be initiated and the vehicle is lying under the open sky in the police station. The seizure list supports the seizure of the Bolero. 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 with respect to vehicle in question in his name before the designated court below 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.

Patna High Court CWJC No.9663 of 2019 dt.22-07-2019 3/3 (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 prepared by the designated 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 submission of the sureties and the undertakings as stated above, which would however be subject to initiation and finalization of the confiscation proceeding, if any. With the observations above, this writ petition is allowed.

(Jyoti Saran, J) ( Partha Sarthy, J) Prakash/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE Uploading Date Transmission Date