Pradeep Chaudhary v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.28262 of 2025 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-608 Year-2014 Thana- GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL COMP. District- Nawada ====================================================== Pradeep Chaudhary, male, aged about 58 years, son of Late Jagesar Chaudhary, Resident of Village- Govindpur Dih ,Police Station - Govindpur, District-Nawada ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr. Deepak Kumar, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :
Mr. Dashrath Mehta, A.P.P.
====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PURNENDU SINGH ORAL ORDER 07-05-2025 Heard Mr. Deepak Kumar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Mr. Dashrath Mehta , learned APP for the State.
2. The petitioner seeks pre-arrest bail in connection with G.O. Case No. 608 of 2014 registered for the offence punishable under Section 47(a), (f) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act as amended up-to-date.
3. Allegation is of recovery of 240 litres of mahua liquor along with 1200 kg of fermented mahua from the bank of Sakri river and petitioner was found to be engaged in manufacturing of illicit liquor.
4. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.28262 of 2025(2) dt.07-05-2025 2/3 in the case due to local village politics. Petitioner has no concern with the seized liquor nor he is involved in trade of liquor in any manner. The place of recovery is an open place which is accessible to anyone. Since, no action was taken from the date of lodging of the FIR in the year 2014, there was no question of apprehension of the petitioner. However, petitioner is ready to make payment of the total loss, which has been put to the State. On these grounds, petitioner seeks to be released on pre-arrest bail.
5. Learned APP for the State has vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner and submits that due to sale and consumption of illicit liquor, day after day, hooch tragedy occurs and the State Officials of different department appears to have facilitated smuggling and trade of illicit liquor inside the State of Bihar. As such, involvement of the petitioner cannot be ruled out from illicit trade of liquor.
6. Considering the rival submissions made on behalf of the parties, as well as, the fact that petitioner is ready to abide by the provisions of Bihar Excise Act, 1915 as amended up-todate, the petitioner, above named, is directed to be released on pre-arrest bail, in the event of his/her arrest or surrender before
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.28262 of 2025(2) dt.07-05-2025 3/3 the learned District Court within a period of four weeks from today, on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Exclusive Special Excise Court-2, Nawada, in connection with G.O. Case No. 608 of 2014, subject to the condition as laid down under Section 438(2) of the Cr.P.C.
7. The learned District Court is directed to verify the criminal antecedent of the petitioner as stated in paragraph no. 3 of the bail application. If any other case is pending against the petitioner as what has been stated in paragraph no. 3, this order will lose its force automatically. (Purnendu Singh, J) Niraj/- U T