Niraj Kumar Jaiswal v. The State Of Bihar Through The Principal Secretary, Excise, Government Of Bihar, Patna And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Criminal Writ Jurisdiction Case No.496 of 2018 ====================================================== Niraj Kumar Jaiswal S/o Shambhu Nath Chaudhary, R/o Kotwali Chawk, Bettiah, Ward No. 15, Shahidganj Chawk No.1, P.S.- Bettiah, District- West Champaran at Bettiah, Bihar.

.... .... Petitioner/s

Versus

1. The State of Bihar Through The Principal Secretary, Excise, Government of Bihar, Patna.

2. The Principal Secretary Excise, Govenment of Bihar, Patna.

3. The District Magistrate, Gopalganj.

4. The Superintendent of Police, Gopalganj.

5. The Excise Superintendent , District- Gopalganj.

6. The Officer In Charge, P.S.- Gopalganj (Town), District- Gopalganj. .... .... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Choudhary Shyam Nandan For the Respondent/s : Mr. Vikash Kumar (SV-11) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJEEV RANJAN PRASAD ORAL ORDER 16-02-2018 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel representing the State.

Petitioner has prayed for release of the vehicle Swift VDI bearing Reg.No.BR-06AE-9695, Engine No.D3A0366712, Chassis No.MA3FHE131500404995, which has been seized by the police in connection with Gopalganj Town P.S. Case No.287 of 2017, District-Gopalganj for the offence under Sections 30(a) and 37(D) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. It is alleged that 1470 ml of foreign liquor has been recovered from the vehicle in question.

Patna High Court Cr. WJC No.496 of 2018 (2) dt.16-02-2018 Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is ready and willing to abide by the terms and conditions which may be imposed by this Court for provisional release of the vehicle in question.

In the facts and circumstances, pending initiation or finalization of the confiscation proceeding, let the vehicle of the petitioner be provisionally released on production of proof of ownership and registration of the vehicle in his favour subject to the following conditions:- (i) Petitioner shall furnish surety bond of Rs.4,00,000/- (four lakhs) (not in form of bank guarantee or cash) with two sureties of the like amount to the satisfaction of court below or the authority concerned.

(ii) The petitioner shall also give an undertaking that he will not deal with the vehicle in question and shall not alienate or encumber the same creating any kind of adverse interest against the interest of the State, he will not use the vehicle for any illegal purpose and as and when required, he will produce the vehicle in question before the

Patna High Court Cr. WJC No.496 of 2018 (2) dt.16-02-2018 competent court/authority.

(iii) At the time of release, the concerned authority/court shall get prepared a photograph duly certified in presence of the petitioner and panchnama of the vehicle in question shall also be prepared and keep the same on record which may be used as secondary evidence.

(iv) Petitioner undertakes not to challenge the said photograph and panchnama so prepared in his presence at the time of release of vehicle in question for use in course of trial or the confiscation proceeding, as the case may be.

The application stands disposed of.

(Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, J) Arvind/- U T