Prabhat Ranjan vs State Of Bihar Through The Principal Secretary And Ors

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Counsel for the State.

The petitioner is the owner of the Mahindra Bolero and prays for provisional release of the said vehicle bearing Registration No. BR31PA1373,

Chassis No. MA1XA2GHKF5E54066, Engine No. GHF4D73481 which has been seized in connection with Lakhisarai (Kabaiya) P.S. Case No. 375

of 2018 for the offences punishable under Sections 272 and 273 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 30(a), 32(b) and 38(a) of the Bihar Prohibition

and Excise Act, 2016.

It is stated by learned counsel for the petitioner that confiscation proceeding is pending and the vehicle is lying under the open sky in the police station.

The seizure list reflects the seizure of 156 litres of beer cans.

Having heard learned counsel for the parties and taking note of the nature of seizure made as well as the fact that the confiscation proceeding is

pending, we direct that the vehicle in question be released provisionally in favour of the petitioner on production of ownership and registration with

respect to vehicle in question in his name before the District Magistrate, Lakhisarai with one surety along with a Bank Guarantee or original title deed

of immovable property situated within the district to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance document. The petitioner while

submitting the surety and the bank guarantee or the original title deed, as the case may be, shall also furnish the following affidavits/undertakings:

(I) That the vehicle in question has never been involved in any offence of similar nature in past and shall not indulge in similar offence in future.

(ii) That the petitioner shall not indulge in creating any third party right or interest in respect of the vehicle during the pendency of the confiscation

proceeding and shall not alienate the vehicle during this period.

(iii) The petitioner shall furnish an undertaking to produce the vehicle before the confiscating authority as and when required.

(iv) Prior to release of the vehicle, a Panchanama would be prepared by the District Magistrate, Lakhisarai wherein the photograph of the vehicle

shall be taken and will be certified by the petitioner and the same shall be kept on record so that in future if so required, it may be used as a secondary

evidence. The petitioner shall furnish an undertaking not to challenge the said Panchanama in course of trial.

The release shall be allowed within a period of 14 days from the date of submission of the one surety along with a Bank Guarantee or the original title

deed of immovable property situated in the district, as the case may be, to the extent of the value of the vehicle as indicated in the insurance document

and the undertakings, as stated above. This release would, however, be subject to finalization of the confiscation proceeding. The title deed papers

shall remain in safe custody of the confiscating authority subject to final decision in the confiscation proceedings.

The writ petition is allowed.