Suraj Manjhi v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.86482 of 2025 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-114 Year-2025 Thana- Nagara District- Saran ====================================================== Suraj Manjhi S/o Ramraj Manjhi R/o Village- Nagra Bazar, P.S.- Nagra, DisttSaran ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State of Bihar Bihar ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr.Dheeraj Kumar For the Opposite Party/s :
Mr.Nagendra Prasad ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AJIT KUMAR ORAL ORDER 18-12-2025 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State.
2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Nagra P.S. Case No. 114 of 2025, F.I.R dated 22.08.2025 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Amendment Act, 2018.
3. As per the prosecution case, on 22.07.2025, while on evening patrolling and special raid against liquor dealers, the informant allegedly received secret information at about 7:30 p.m. at Nagra Chowk that the petitioner, Suraj Manjhi, was selling country-made liquor by concealing it under a chowki in front of his house. After informing the senior officer, the informant proceeded for verification and reached the said place
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.86482 of 2025(2) dt.18-12-2025 2/3 at about 7:50 p.m. It is alleged that on seeing the police vehicle, the petitioner took advantage of darkness and fled away. It is further alleged that despite the presence of villagers, no independent witness agreed to participate in the search and seizure, and therefore, two accompanying constables were made seizure witnesses. During search of the spot, about 9 litres of country-made liquor was allegedly recovered from a bucket and plastic polythene. A seizure list was prepared accordingly, leading to institution of the present case.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the recovery has been made in front of the house of the petitioner while the seized articles does not belong to him or he is no way connected with the alleged incident. It has next been submitted that petitioner has clean antecedent, and is ready to abide by terms and conditions of anticipatory bail in case such privilege is extended in his favour.
5. Learned APP for the State opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail application.
6. Regard being had to the submission made by the parties, taking into consideration the fact that illicit liquor has not been recovered from the constructive possession and / or premises belonging to the petitioner and considering the
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.86482 of 2025(2) dt.18-12-2025 3/3 aforesaid fact that the petitioner has clean antecedent and he is in no way connected with the incident, accordingly, this Court is inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.
7. Let the petitioner, above named, be released on anticipatory bail in the event of arrest or surrender before the court below within a period of four weeks from today on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 10,000/- (rupees ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Exclusive Special Excise Court No. 3, Saran at Chapra in connection with Nagra P.S. Case No. 114 of 2025 subject to the condition as laid down under Section 482(2) of the B.N.S.S., 2023.
(Ajit Kumar, J) abhishekkr/- U T