The Patna high court has granted anticipatory bail to a man accused of possessing liquor in Khagaria in Bihar, where prohibition was imposed in 2016, on the condition that he contribute ₹ 15,000 to beautify the local civil court campus with flower pots. A single-judge bench of Justice Rajiv Roy passed the September 2 order, which was uploaded on the high court’s website on September 8 (Tuesday).
High Court Imposes Strict Bail Conditions
The high court has established stringent bail conditions for the defendant. These include mandatory attendance at the local police station every two weeks for six months and presence at all scheduled court hearings. The court issued a warning that failure to attend two consecutive hearings without a valid excuse, or any attempts to tamper with witnesses or commit further offenses, will result in the cancellation of bail.
Bail Plea Controversy Amid Criminal History
Advocate Brajesh Verma, representing Kumar, contended that the liquor was found in an open field, arguing it was not in Kumar’s ‘conscious possession’. He referenced a 2019 high court ruling in the Ram Vinay Yadav versus State of Bihar case, which stated that anticipatory bail could be granted under prohibition laws if the First Information Report does not indicate a prima facie offence.
In a gesture to support the community, Kumar proposed a donation of ₹15,000 to the District Legal Services Authority for the purchase of flower pots for the Khagaria Civil Court campus. However, the prosecution opposed the bail request, highlighting Kumar’s criminal background.
