Patna: The Patna High Court has granted anticipatory bail to a man accused in a Bihar prohibition case, subject to an unusual condition requiring him to contribute Rs 15,000 towards installing flower pots at the Khagaria Civil Court premises.
Justice Rajiv Roy, hearing the matter through a single-judge bench, granted anticipatory bail to Uttam Kumar, a resident of Salarpur in Khagaria district.
Kumar is an accused in Parbatta police station case number 259/2026, registered under Section 30(A) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act.
81.450 Litres of Foreign Liquor Seized
According to the prosecution, police recovered 81.450 litres of foreign liquor from an open field during a raid conducted on June 30, 2026, following a tip-off.
The defence argued that the liquor had been recovered from an open field and not from the conscious possession of the accused.
The counsel for the petitioner, Brajesh Verma, also relied on a Full Bench judgment concerning anticipatory bail in similar prohibition cases.
Defence Challenges Accusation
The defence further submitted that Kumar had been named as an accused on the basis of his previous criminal record.
The prosecution opposed the bail plea, citing his alleged criminal antecedents.
After considering the arguments and legal aspects of the case, the High Court granted anticipatory bail subject to certain conditions.
Rs 15,000 Contribution for Flower Pots
As part of the bail conditions, the court directed the petitioner to contribute Rs 15,000 to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Khagaria, specifically for installing flower pots.
The petitioner will also have to comply with the other conditions imposed by the court while remaining on anticipatory bail.
Court Links Bail Condition With Public Welfare
The unusual condition makes the bail order notable, as the contribution is intended for improving the surroundings of the Khagaria Civil Court through the installation of flower pots.
The order also highlights how courts can attach specific conditions to bail while ensuring that the accused complies with the legal requirements of the proceedings.
Case Involves Bihar Prohibition Law
The case relates to Bihar’s prohibition law, under which possession, transportation and other activities involving liquor can attract criminal proceedings.
In this case, the defence maintained that the alleged liquor recovery was not made from Kumar’s conscious possession, while the prosecution relied on the circumstances of the case and his previous criminal record.
The High Court, after considering the submissions from both sides, granted him anticipatory bail with the specified conditions.
