Gautam Meena @ Gautam Mina v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.70292 of 2024 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-596 Year-2024 Thana- Excise P.S. District- Gopalganj ====================================================== Gautam Meena @ Gautam Mina S/o Puran Mal Mina @ Puran Mal Meena @ Puran Mal R/o vill - Bada Gaon Bhatiya, ward no. 9, P.S. - Daulatpur, Distt. - Jaipur (Rajasthan).

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

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

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Pankaj Kumar Dubey For the Opposite Party/s :

Mr.Madan Kumar ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK KUMAR PANDEY ORAL ORDER 07-10-2024 As prayed for, learned counsel for the petitioner is permitted to make necessary correction in the provision of law under which the present bail petition has been filed as also in paragraph-09 of the petition, during course of the day.

2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned A.P.P. for the State.

3. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with Excise P.S. Case No. 596/2024 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 30(a) and 32 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2018.

4. As per prosecution case, there is alleged recovery of 413.250 liters foreign liquor from Pick-up van in question and the petitioner is said to have apprehended on the spot.

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.70292 of 2024(2) dt.07-10-2024 2/3

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in this case. Nothing has been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioner. The petitioner is languishing in custody since 24.07.2024 and bears no criminal antecedent. He further submits that the petitioner is not the owner of the alleged vehicle in question and he is merely a driver of the said vehicle and has no knowledge regarding the alleged liquor that has been kept in the said vehicle. The petitioner has to follow the instruction of his owner to earn the livelihood. He further submits that the seizure list has not been prepared as per the law. In the light of the aforesaid submission, no case is made out against the petitioner under the provision of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.

6. The learned A.P.P. for the State vehemently opposed the prayer for bail of the petitioner.

7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, period of custody, keeping in view clean antecedent of the petitioner, argument advanced on behalf of both sides and also taking into consideration the material available on record, let the petitioner above named be released on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.70292 of 2024(2) dt.07-10-2024 3/3 of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge-IVth cum Exclusive Special Judge, Excise Court No.-II, Gopalganj in connection with Excise P.S. Case No. 596/2024, subject to following conditions:- (i) One of the bailors shall be either father or mother or sister or brother or wife or the person who has sworn the affidavit in bail application.

(ii) Petitioner will co-operate in trial and will remain present on all dates and absence for two consecutive dates without appropriate permission, would be a ground for cancellation of bail by the learned Trial Court itself. (iii) If the petitioner tampers with the evidence or the witnesses, in that case, the prosecution will be at liberty to move for cancellation of bail.

(Alok Kumar Pandey, J) amitkumar/- U T