Manju Devi v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.1307 of 2019 ====================================================== Manju Devi, wife of Manoj Kumar Resident of Village-Taret Naubatpur, P.S. Naubatpur, District-Patna ... ... Petitioner

Versus

1. The State of Bihar through its Principal Secretary Registration Excise and Prohibition Department Govt. of BIhar, Patna

2. The District Magistrate Patna.

3. The S.S.P. Patna.

4. The Superintendent of Excise Patna

5. S.H.O. Alamganj Patna ... ... Respondents ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Arvind Pandey, Adv.

For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Vikash Kumar(Sc11) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN and HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. NILU AGRAWAL ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JYOTI SARAN) Date : 22-01-2019 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State.

The petitioner prays for provisional release of the Piaggio Tempoo bearing registration No. BR01PC-2259, Engine No. P014043432, Chasis No. MBX0000ZFML158954, which has been seized in connection with Alamganj P.S. Case No. 262/18 (Special Case No. 3446/2017) for the offences punishable under section 30(A) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. It is stated by learned counsel for the petitioner that 2.5 litres of Country made liquor has been seized; the confiscation

Patna High Court CWJC No.1307 of 2019 dt.22-01-2019 2/3 proceeding is yet to be initiated and the vehicle is lying under the open sky in the police station. The seizure list supports the seizure of the motorcycle and 2.5 litres of Country made liquor. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and taking note of the nature of seizure made as well as the fact that the confiscation proceeding is yet to be initiated, we direct that the vehicle in question be released provisionally in favour of the petitioner on production of ownership and registration with respect to vehicle in question in his name before the court below with two sureties (one local) to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance document. The petitioner while submitting the sureties shall also furnish the following affidavits/ undertakings:

(i) That the vehicle in question has never been involved in any offence of similar nature in past and shall not indulge in similar offence in further.

(ii) That the petitioner shall not indulge in creating any third party right or interest in respect of the vehicle during the pendency of the confiscation proceeding and shall not alienate the vehicle during this period.

Patna High Court CWJC No.1307 of 2019 dt.22-01-2019 3/3 (iii) The petitioner shall furnish an undertaking to produce the vehicle before the confiscating authority as and when required.

(iv) Prior to release of the vehicle, a Panchanama would be prepared by the court below wherein the photograph of the vehicle shall be taken and will be certified by the petitioner and the same shall be kept on record so that in future if so required, it may be used as a secondary evidence. The petitioner shall furnish an undertaking not to challenge the said Panchanama in course of trial.

The release shall be allowed within a period of 14 days from the date of submission of the sureties and the undertakings as stated above, which would however be subject to initiation and finalization of the confiscation proceeding, if any. With the observations above, this writ petition is allowed.

(Jyoti Saran, J) ( Nilu Agrawal, J) Surendra/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 25.01.2019 Transmission Date NA