M/S Pristine Magadh Infrastructure Private Limited v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.5398 of 2018 =========================================================== M/s Pristine Magadh Infrastructure Private Limited through it authorized Representative Rakesh Kumar Son of late Baikunth Narain Singh Resident of Bapu Nagar, Near Indira Bal Vikas Vidyalaya, North Mandiri, P.S.- Budha Colony, District- Patna.

.... .... Petitioner/s

Versus

1. The State of Bihar through Secretary, Department of Excise, New Secretariat, Patna, Bihar.

2. The Collector, Patna.

3. The Officer-in-Charge, Khagaul Police Station, P.S. - Khagaul, District- Patna. .... .... Respondent/s =========================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Saket Tiwary For the Respondent/s : Mr. A.K. SINHA- GA1 =========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJEEV RANJAN PRASAD ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE) Date: 28-03-2018 This writ petition has been filed for release of a vehicle (Truck) bearing Registration No. BR01GE7590, which has been seized in connection with Khagaul P.S. Case No. 45 of 2018 due to violation of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. It is stated that no liquor has been seized from the vehicle in question. It is common ground that in various cases, identical in nature, pending finalization of the criminal case, vehicles have been directed to be released by this Court on various conditions and we see no reason to make a deviation in the present case. In case any confiscation proceeding is to be initiated, the

Patna High Court CWJC No.5398 of 2018 dt.28-03-2018 2/2 same would be initiated only after the competent authority satisfies and passes a reasoned order as to how confiscation proceeding can be initiated when the allegation is only that the driver has been found driving the vehicle in a drunken state.

Keeping in view the aforesaid, it is directed that pending finalization of the criminal case, the aforesaid vehicle in question shall be released to the petitioner on her furnishing two sureties to the satisfaction of the Collector - cum - District Magistrate, Patna within a period of one week from the date of her furnishing the sureties and further undertaking to produce the vehicle as and when directed by the authority concerned and not to alienate or deal with the vehicle in question in any manner during the pendency of the criminal case. With the aforesaid, the writ petition stands allowed and disposed of.

(Rajendra Menon, CJ) (Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, J) Dilip, AR AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE N/A Uploading Date 29.03.2018 Transmission Date N/A