Pankaj Manjhi @ Pankaj Hajara v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.40836 of 2026 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-73 Year-2025 Thana- BARAULI District- Gopalganj ====================================================== Pankaj Manjhi @ Pankaj Hajara S/O Parma Manjhi @ Parma Hajra R/o - Kahla, P.S - Barauli, District - Gopalganj ... ... Petitioner

Versus

The State of Bihar ... ... Opposite Party ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner :

Mr. Umesh Kumar Singh, Advocate For the Opposite Party :

Mr. Kumar Ranjit Ranjan, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA SHEKHAR JHA ORAL ORDER 24-06-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.

2. The accused/petitioner is named in the FIR and apprehending his arrest in connection with Barauli P.S. Case No.73 of 2025 registered under Section 30(a) of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.

3. Allegation against the petitioner is to engage in illegal trade/manufacturing of illicit liquor, where there is recovery of 18.9 litres of IMFL/country-made liquor.

4. It is submitted by learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that the name of petitioner arrayed solely on the basis of disclosure made by the local chowkidar. It is also

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.40836 of 2026(2) dt.24-06-2026 2/3 submitted that the recovery of illicit liquor was made from motorcycle where petitioner is neither owner nor connected in any manner with the alleged motorcycle. It is also submitted that recovery of illicit liquor was not made from conscious possession of this petitioner. Explaining criminal antecedent, it is submitted that the petitioner found involved in three more criminal cases, where he is on bail.

5. Learned APP opposed the prayer of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

6. In view of aforesaid factual submissions and by taking note of the fact as recovery of illicit liquor prima facie not appears to be made from physical possession of this petitioner, accordingly, the petitioner, above-named, in the event of his arrest or surrender in the court below within a period of four weeks from today, is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional District and Sessions Judge XIII cum Special Excise, Court No. I, Gopalganj, in connection with Barauli P.S. Case No.73 of 2025, subject to

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.40836 of 2026(2) dt.24-06-2026 3/3 the conditions as laid down under Section 438(2) of the CrPC/under Section 482(2) of the BNSS.

(Chandra Shekhar Jha, J) aniket/- U T