Disposed¶27

Nilmani v. The State of Bihar

Patna HC6 May 2025CWJC/5517/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Vehicle release writ; Honda WR-V BR06BL0113 seized with 2.70 litres illicit liquor, Chiraiya P.S. case dated 20.11.2024, Motihari, East Champaran; charges under B.N.S 126(2), 115(2), 352, 3(5) and Section 30(a) Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022; release ordered on payment of fine Rs. 15,000/- within one week; Article 226 extraordinary jurisdiction invoked to avoid confiscation/multiplicity of proceedings under Rule 12A Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021 (amended sub Rule 2, 2022 and 2023) and Sections 58, 92, 93 Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016; petitioner counsel Samir Kumar; disposed 06-05-2025.

What did the court decide?

Release of the petitioner's seized Honda WR-V vehicle (Regn. BR06BL0113) upon collection of a fine of Rs. 15,000/- by the concerned authority, within one week from the date of receipt of the order.

Nilmani Vs The State of Bihar — Writ and Judicial Review | Patna HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Release of the petitioner's seized Honda WR-V vehicle (Regn. BR06BL0113) upon collection of a fine of Rs. 15,000/- by the concerned authority, within one week from the date of receipt of the order.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the seized Honda WR-V vehicle (Registration no. BR06BL0113) of the petitioner, seized in connection with the Chiraiya P.S. case dated 20.11.2024 involving alleged recovery of 2.70 litres of illicit liquor, should be released to the petitioner.

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Ratio / Principle

Considering the small quantity of liquor, the concerned authority is directed to collect a fine of Rs. 15,000/- and release the seized vehicle within one week from receipt of the order, to which the petitioner has no objection.

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Key takeaways

The Court was conscious that the alleged recovery was a meager quantity and passed the order while invoking extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.ratio¶24
The order was required to prevent multiplicity of proceedings (under Rule 12A of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021 as amended, and Sections 58, 92 and 93 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016) in the interest of justice.ratio¶26

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Patna High Court, Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.5517 of 2025 (decided 06-05-2025; Coram: P. B. Bajanthri and S. B. Pd. Singh, JJ.; oral judgment per S. B. Pd. Singh, J) disposed of a writ petition praying for release of the petitioner's Honda WR-V vehicle (Regn. no. BR06BL0113) seized in connection with a Chiraiya P.S. case dated 20.11.2024, in which 2.70 litres of illicit liquor was allegedly recovered from the four wheeler. Holding itself conscious that the alleged recovery was a meager quantity, the Court directed the concerned authority to collect a fine of Rs. 15,000/- and release the vehicle within one week of receipt of the order, to which the petitioner had no objection. The order was passed in exercise of extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India so that the petitioner would not be subjected to multiplicity of proceedings under Rule 12A of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021 (read with amended sub Rule 2 of Rule 12A of 2022 and 2023) and Sections 58, 92 and 93 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, for the 2.7 litres of illicit liquor involved.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.5517 of 2025

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Nilmani, son of Ashok Kumar Singh, resident of Mohalla - SaketPuri, Road No. 3, Bhagwanpur Chowk, P.S. - Bhagwanpur, District - Muzaffarpur.

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... ... Petitioner/s

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Versus

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The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of Registration, Excise and Prohibition, Government of Bihar.

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The Excise Commissioner, Bihar, Patna.

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The Director General of Police, Bihar, Patna.

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The District Collector cum District Magistrate, Motihari, East Champaran.

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The Superintendent of Police, Motihari, East Champaran.

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The Station House Officer (S.H.O), Chiraiya Police Station, Motihari, East Champaran.

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... ... Respondent/s

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====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Samir Kumar For the Respondent/s : Mr.Standing Counsel (06) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. B. BAJANTHRI And HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. B. PD. SINGH ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. B. PD. SINGH) Date : 06-05-2025

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In the instant petition, petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s):-

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“a. For issuance of writ in the nature of mandamus directing to release the Honda WR-V vehicle of the petitioner bearing Registration no. BR06BL0113 which has been seized in connection with Chiraiya P.S. case No. 474/2024 dated 20.11.2024 registered u/s 126(2), 115(2), 352, 3(5) of B.N.S and 30 (a)

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Patna High Court CWJC No.5517 of 2025 dt.06-05-2025 2/4

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of Bihar Prohibition & Excise Amendment Act.

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b. Any other relief or reliefs to which the petitioner is found entitled to in the facts and circumstances of the case.

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Briefly stated the facts of the case is that there is alleged recovery of 2.70 litres of illicit liquor from the four wheeler of the petitioner. On the basis of aforesaid fact, Chiraiya P.S. Case No. 274 of 2024 dated 20.11.2024 was registered 126(2), 115(2), 352, 3(5) of B.N.S and Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2022.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that petitioner is the owner of the seized vehicle and he has no concern with the seized illicit liquor. The petitioner is the bona fide owner of the seized vehicle. The father-in-law of the petitioner has filed written application to the police alleging that driver of the vehicle was assaulted and the vehicle was snatched by some drunken people near the middle school of the village. It is further submitted that after 10-12 days of the incident, a video went viral in which

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Patna High Court CWJC No.5517 of 2025 dt.06-05-2025 3/4

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it was clearly shown how the police, with the help of some locals were loading liquor into the vehicle and a white colored care is seen in the video. The seizure list has also been made without following the rule of search. It is further submitted that till date, no notice of initiation of confiscation proceeding has been received by the petitioner.

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Considering the small quantity of liquor, the concerned authority is hereby directed to collect fine of Rs. 15,000/-(Fifteen Thousands) and release the subject matter of vehicle within a period of one week from the date of receipt of this order for which petitioner has no objection.

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We are conscious of the fact that alleged recovery is meager quantity and the aforesaid order has been passed while invoking extra ordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the reasons that unnecessarily petitioner shall not be subjected to various proceedings like Rule of 12A of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Rules, 2021 read with amended sub Rule 2 of Rule 12A in the year 2022 and 2023, Sections 58, 92 and 93 of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, for a issue of 2.7 litres of illicit liquor and such order is

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Patna High Court CWJC No.5517 of 2025 dt.06-05-2025 4/4

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required to prevent the multiplicity of proceeding in the interest of justice.

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