Bhola Kumar @ Bhola Mahto v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.40501 of 2022 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-44 Year-2022 Thana- PANJWARA District- Banka ====================================================== BHOLA KUMAR @ BHOLA MAHTO Son of Ram Padarath Mahto Resident of Village - Ward No.- 17, Penhas, P.S.- Nagar (Lohia Nagar), District - Begusarai.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Pritish Kumar Lal, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr.Pronoti Singh, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA SHEKHAR JHA ORAL ORDER 20-08-2022 Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State. Let the defect(s), if any, be removed within a period of four weeks from today.

The petitioner seeks bail in connection with Panjwara P.S. Case No. 44 of 2022 registered for the offence under Sections 30(a) and 32(2) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2018.

The accused/petitioner is named in the F.I.R. and is in

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.40501 of 2022(2) dt.20-08-2022 2/3 custody since 18.04.2022.

The allegation against the petitioner is to be engaged in illegal trading/manufacturing of illicit liquor, where, there is recovery of 314.775 litres of IMFL/country made liquor from the alleged vehicle.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that the alleged recovery of illicit liquor was made from the jointly occupied car and, as such, it cannot be said to be recovered from the conscious physical possession of the petitioner. It is further submitted that the seizure list is not supported by independent witnesses which creates a further doubt over entire seizure. While concluding the argument, it has been submitted that petitioner is a man of clean antecedent and moreover, investigation has been completed, for which, chargesheet has been submitted, as such, there is no chance of tampering with the evidence.

Learned APP opposes the prayer of bail.

Considering the facts and circumstances as mentioned above, as recovery of illicit liquor was not made from the conscious physical possession of the petitioner, who is a man of clean antecedent coupled with the fact that charge-sheet has been submitted, let the petitioner, above named, is directed to be

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.40501 of 2022(2) dt.20-08-2022 3/3 released on bail in connection with Panjawara P.S. Case No. 44 of 2022 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-V, Banka/concerned court, subject to the conditions as mentioned under Section 437 (3) of the Cr.P.C.

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