Ranjit Mahto v. The State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Patna HC, Cr.Misc No.19723 of 2025, dt. 23-04-2025, Justice Satyavrat Verma; petitioner Ranjit Mahto; State of Bihar (A.P.P. Akbar Ali; counsel Rabish Kumar). Provisional anticipatory bail in Naokothi PS Case 09/2025, Begusarai — offences under S.61(2) BNS, Bihar Excise Act ss.30(a), 32, 41 (207 litres illicit liquor recovered from a Haiva) and Arms Act ss.25(1-AA), 25(1-b)a, 26, 35 (co-accused Vijay Rajak: two country-made pistols, 29 live cartridges). Surrender window six weeks; bond Rs. 20,000/- plus two sureties; S.482(2) BNSS conditions. Key device: post-grant antecedent verification — more than four cases = presumed concealment, provisional order not confirmed; four cases = confirmed forthwith. Parity argument with co-accused Dinkar Mahto/Dinkar Kumar and Niraj Kumar/Niraj Mahto (anticipatory bail, 16-04-2025, Cr.Misc 15436/2025 and 16485/2025). Keywords: provisional anticipatory bail, criminal antecedent verification, custody confessional statement, conscious possession, Bihar Excise Act, Arms Act.