Patna High CourtCR. MISC./82340/2025bail granted

Manoj Singh @ Sardar Manoj Singh v. The Union Of India Through The Principal Commissioner Customs, C.R Building B.C Patel Path, Patna

2026-03-24Mr. Justice Sandeep Kumar3 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.82340 of 2025 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-14 Year-2022 Thana- D.R.I District- Patna ====================================================== Manoj Singh @ Sardar Manoj Singh S/o- Sardar Rameshwar Singh @ Rameshwar Singh R/O Mohalla- Sonpati, P.S-Sasaram, District-Rohtas ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

The Union of India through the Principal Commissioner Customs, C.R Building B.C Patel Path, Patna Bihar 2.

The Assistant Director, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Regional Unit, Patna Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Pramod Kumar Singh, Advocate For the DRI/ Customs :

Mr. Amit Pandey, Sr. S.C.

Mrs. Asmita Sinha, Advocate For the State :

Mr. Shyam Kumar Singh, APP ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR ORAL ORDER 24-03-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner; learned APP for the State and learned counsel for the Customs and DRI.

2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with DRI PS Case No. 14 of 2022 and Economic Offence (Customs) Case No. 361(C) of 2022 registered for the offence punishable under Sections 135(1)(a) and 135(1)(b) of the Customs Act, 1962 read with Section 3(2) of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

3. The recovery is of gold biscuits/bullions weighting 1982.340 grams valued at Rs. 1,03,45,832 of foreign marking.

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.82340 of 2025(4) dt.24-03-2026 2/3

4. The petitioner is in custody since 10.07.2025.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the gold was purchased by the petitioner and it is not from a third country origin. It was purchased by his employees and it has been recovered from Gaya Junction and not from any International Airport.

6. Learned counsel for the customs and DRI has vehemently opposed the prayer for bail and has submitted that the petitioner is involved in smuggling of gold and the value of the seized gold is Rs. 1,03,45,832/- and therefore the petitioner does not deserve bail.

7. I have considered the submissions of the parties.

8. Considering the custody of the petitioner, the fact that there is no allegation of tampering of evidence, this application is allowed.

9. Let the petitioner, above named, be released on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Special Judge, Economic Offences, Patna/ concerned Court below in connection with DRI PS Case No. 14 of 2022 and Economic Offence (Customs) Case No. 361(C) of 2022, subject to the condition that the both the bailors should be the blood

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.82340 of 2025(4) dt.24-03-2026 3/3 relatives of the petitioner. Further, the petitioner shall surrender his passport, if any, at the time of furnishing the bail bonds and shall also co-operate in the trial.

(Sandeep Kumar, J) P. Kumar U T