Pankaj Kumar Singh v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.9744 of 2022 ====================================================== Pankaj Kumar Singh S/o Brijkishore Singh, Resident of 181/2 G.H. Colony, P.S.-Chhota Gobindpur, District-East Singhbhoom. ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1.
The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Patna.
2.
The Principal Secretary, Excise and Prohibition Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.
3.
The Director General of Police, Bihar, Patna. 4.
The District Magistrate, Bhagalpur.
5.
The Excise Superintendent, Bhagalpur.
6.
The Superintendent of Police, Naugachiya under the District of Bhagalpur. 7.
The Officer in charge of Bihpur Police Station under the District of Bhagalpur.
... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr.Swapnil Kumar Singh, Advocate For the Respondent/s :
Mr.Vikash Kumar (SC-11) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. KUMAR ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. KUMAR) (The proceedings of the Court are being conducted through Video Conferencing and the Advocates joined the proceedings through Video Conferencing from their residence.) Date : 22-07-2022 Heard learned counsel for the parties.
Petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s):-
Patna High Court CWJC No.9744 of 2022 dt.22-07-2022 2/3 Allegation is recovery of 1.5 litres of illicit liquor from the seized truck of the petitioner.
Petitioner claims to be the owner of the said vehicle. It is further submitted that a meagre quantity of 1.5 litres of liquor has been recovered from the vehicle, as such, it cannot be inferred that the vehicle was used for transporting/carrying illicit liquor, nor it can be presumed that recovered illicit liquor was kept for sale/purchase/ trade purpose and it appears that same was kept for personal consumption. In the facts and circumstances of the case, the District Magistrate/Confiscating Officer concerned is directed to
Patna High Court CWJC No.9744 of 2022 dt.22-07-2022 3/3 provisionally release the vehicle of petitioner after due identification of ownership of the vehicle on production of ownership and registration papers with respect to vehicle in question in his/her name and on furnishing adequate sureties to the satisfaction of District Magistrate / Confiscating Authority and undertaking.
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 finalization of the confiscation proceeding.
Petitioner is also at liberty to get his/her vehicle released on payment of penalty in terms of Rule 12(A) inserted by amending Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021. With said observation and direction, this writ petition is disposed of.
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