Sanju Devi v. The State Of Bihar Through The Principal Secretary Excise Department, Patna, Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Criminal Writ Jurisdiction Case No.1154 of 2017 Arising Out of PS.Case No. -null Year- null Thana -null District- BEGUSARAI ===========================================================

1. Sanju Devi W/o Hare Ram Singh R/o Vill. - Chhotu Eghu Bari Eghu, Dist. - Begusarai.

.... .... Petitioner/s

Versus

1. The State of Bihar through Chief Secretary.

2. The District Magistrate, Begusarai.

3. The Superintendent of Police, Begusarai.

4. The Officer in charge-cum-Investigating Officer Baliya Police Station, Baliya. .... .... Respondent/s =========================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Shubhesh Pandey, Advocate For the Respondent/s : Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha, GA-1 =========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BIRENDRA KUMAR ORAL JUDGMENT Date: 12-09-2017 Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. The petitioner is owner of Bolero Taxi bearing registration No. BR09M-6670 (wrongly mentioned in the seizure list as BR9H-9482). The said vehicle was seized in connection with Ballia P.S. Case No.228 of 2016, a case registered for alleged violation of the Excise laws.

3. Submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the power of the executive authority to confiscate the vehicle is pending consideration in LPA No.1647 of 2015 (Baleshwar Roy V. The State of Bihar & Ors.) before a larger Bench of this Court. Hence, till adjudication of that dispute the interim release of the

Patna High Court Cr. WJC No.1154 of 2017 dt.12-09-2017 P2/ vehicle may be ordered in favour of the petitioner otherwise the vehicle would get rotten in the police lockup.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner has no objection in interim release of the vehicle in favour of the petitioner. However, his submission is that release may be ordered subject to the result of the L.P.A.

6. In the circumstances, for substantial justice, let the vehicle, in question, be released in favour of the petitioner by way of ad interim custody on execution of surety bond of Rs.10,00,000/- (Ten Lacs), not in the form of cash/Bank Guarantee, along with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the concerned authority with condition that the petitioner would not dispose of the said vehicle without permission of the authority concerned and shall produce as and when required by the Court. The release shall be subject to the result of the L.P.A. aforesaid.

7. With the aforesaid observation, this writ application stands disposed of.

(Birendra Kumar, J) Mkr./- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 14.09.2017 Transmission Date 14.09.2017