Yogendra Mahto v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.42824 of 2026 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-177 Year-2026 Thana- Gaura P.S. District- Saran ====================================================== Yogendra Mahto, S/o Vishwanath Mahto, Resident of Village- Masaha, Shio Mohammadpur, P.S.- Gaura, District- Saran at Chhapra ... ... Petitioner

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Yashraj Bardhan, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s :

Mrs. Gulnar Begum, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA SHEKHAR JHA ORAL ORDER 01-07-2026 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 Gaura P.S. Case No.177 of 2026 registered under Section 30(a) of the 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 37 litres of IMFL/country-made liquor.

4. It is submitted by learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that the seized illicit liquor was recovered behind the house of one namely, Kundan Nut. It is

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.42824 of 2026(2) dt.01-07-2026 2/3 submitted that being an open place, it is accessible to the general public and, therefore, it cannot be said that the alleged recovery was made from the conscious possession of the petitioner. It is further submitted that seizure list also appears doubtful being not supported by independent witnesses rather than by police personnel. It is also pointed out that the name of the petitioner surfaced solely on the disclosure made by a local Chaukidar. The petitioner has one criminal antecedent, in which, 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 of note of 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 the learned Exclusive Special Excise, Court-II,

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.42824 of 2026(2) dt.01-07-2026 3/3 Saran at Chhapra in connection with Gaura P.S. Case No.177 of 2026, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 438(2) of the CrPC/under Section 482(2) of the BNSS.

(Chandra Shekhar Jha, J.) Raushan/- U T