Rakesh Mahto @ Rajeev Ranjan v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.24307 of 2025 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-647 Year-2024 Thana- SAKRA District- Muzaffarpur ====================================================== Rakesh Mahto @ Rajeev Ranjan Son of Maheshwar Mahto village- Malpur, Agrel, Ps- Sakra, Dist- Muzaffarpur ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr.Priyesh Kumar, Adv.
For the Opposite Party/s :
Ms.Asha Kumari, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA PRAKASH SINGH ORAL ORDER 04-07-2025 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.
2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in a case in connection with Sakra P.S. Case No. 647 of 2024 dated 23.12.2024 registered for the offences punishable u/ss 274, 275, 318(4), 61(2) of BNS and Sections 30(a), 32(1), 32(2), 36, 41(1) and 41(2) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
3. As per the prosecution case, total 8805.6 litres of illicit foreign liquor was recovered from the 18 wheeler Truck.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in this case. The apprehended person disclosed the name of the petitioner. The petitioner is neither the owner nor the driver of
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.24307 of 2025(2) dt.04-07-2025 2/3 the seized vehicle. No incriminating material has been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner. The petitioner has no concern with the alleged recovery. The petitioner has one criminal antecedent as stated in para 3 of the bail petition. The co-accused person has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court vide order dated 09.05.2025 passed in Cr. Misc. No. 13769 of 2025. Learned counsel has submitted that no case is made out against the petitioner. 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 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 material available on record, let the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.24307 of 2025(2) dt.04-07-2025 3/3 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 amount each to the satisfaction of the learned court concerned, Muzaffarpur in connection with Sakra P.S. Case No. 647 of 2024, subject to conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S., with further condition:- (i) The petitioner is directed to remain physically present before the learned Court below on each and every date, failing which on two consecutive dates without reasonable cause, the bail bonds of the petitioner are liable to be cancelled.
7. The application stands allowed.
(Chandra Prakash Singh, J) Gautam/- U T