Deepak Mahto v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.10477 of 2026 ====================================================== Deepak Mahto Son of Jagadish Mahto, R/O village-Ranti, Police station-Rajnagar, Dist-Madhubani. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Development of Registration and Excise, Government of Bihar. 2.

The District Magistrate, Madhubani.

3.

The Superintendent of Police, Madhubani.

4.

The Sub-Divisional Officer, Madhubani.

5.

The S.H.O, Rajnagar Police Station, District-Madhubani. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Bhavesh Kumar Sah For the Respondent/s :

Mr.Standing Counsel (23) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR SINHA and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VIKASH KUMAR ORAL ORDER (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR SINHA) 21-07-2026

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

2. The present writ application has been filed by the petitioner for a direction to the respondent authorities to release his Maruti Suzuki Car bearing Registration No. BR-06CX0348, Chasis No. MBHCZFB3SNC229249 & Engine No. K12NP4082466 which was seized in connection with Rajnagar P.S. Case No. 537 of 2025 dated 26.12.2025 registered for the offence under Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Amendment Act, 2022.

Patna High Court CWJC No.10477 of 2026(2) dt.21-07-2026 2/3

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that aforesaid case was registered for recovery of 351 liters of Nepali country made liquor from the car in question. He further submits that petitioner is the bona fide owner of the vehicle and he was not arrested on the spot and also not present at the time of seizure. The vehicle of the petitioner after seizure is lying under open sky and if the same is not released, it will reduce to junk and will loss its utility. The petitioner undertakes to produce the vehicle before the court as and when required.

4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State submits that the Maruti Suzuki Car of the petitioner was indulged in transportation of illicit liquor, as such, first information report has been registered under Section 30 (a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Amendment Act, 2022 and the vehicle in question was seized and confiscation proceeding has been initiated for confiscation of the car of the petitioner. He further submits that there is provision under Rule 12A of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021 (for short "2021 Rules") for release of the vehicle by the confiscating authority and the petitioner may avail the remedy under Rule 12A of the 2021 Rules by filing an application for release of the vehicle in Form- IV.

Patna High Court CWJC No.10477 of 2026(2) dt.21-07-2026 3/3

5. Considering the nature of prayer made in the writ application and the fact that the petitioner has not availed the remedy under Rule 12A of the 2021 Rules, the present writ application is disposed with liberty to the petitioner to file an appropriate application in Form-IV for release of his vehicle under Rule 12A of the 2021 Rules within a period of two weeks.

6. It is made clear that if such an application is filed by the petitioner in Form- IV within the aforesaid period, the Confiscating Authority / District Magistrate, Madhubani shall dispose the same in accordance with law by a speaking order at the earliest, preferably within a period of two weeks from the date of the filing of the application if confiscation proceeding / appeal / revision has not been concluded and the vehicle has not already been auctioned.

(Anil Kumar Sinha, J) ( Vikash Kumar, J) praful/- U