2026:JHHC:3119 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No. 11890 of 2025 ------ 1. Bablu Kumar, S/o Late Degnarayan Mahto, R/o Village- Belmo, PO- Poraiya, PS- Nimiaghat, District- Giridih, Jharkhand. 2. Manoj Kumar Mahto, S/o Chandravanshi Mahto, R/o Village- Nawadih, PO and PS- Nawadih, District- Bokaro, Jharkhand. .... .... …. Petitioners Versus The State of Jharkhand .... .... .... Opposite Party ……….. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GAUTAM KUMAR CHOUDHARY ……….. For the Petitioners : Mr. Atanu Banerjee, Advocate M/s Suman Kr. Ghosh, Advocate For the State : Mr. Prabir Kr. Chatterjee, SPP ------ Order No.2 / Dated : 5.02.2026. Heard both the sides. The petitioners, above-named, who are in custody since 15.09.2025 in connection with Nimiaghat [Giridih] P.S. Case No.90 of 2025 for the offences registered under Sections 270 & 271 of the BNS, 2023 and Section 47(a), 52 and 55 of the Jharkhand Excise Amendment Act, 2025 have prayed for regular bail. As per the prosecution case, it is alleged that 41,400 liter of spirit in open godown and 200 liter of spirit suspected to be liquor from a Scorpio vehicle parked near the hotel was seized. Five people in all including these petitioners were arrested from the place of occurrence, who could not produce any valid document with regard to the seized spirit. Petitioner no.1 was the manager of the said hotel who is said to have given the godown on hire to one Khurshid Anwar who was involved in the illicit trade of liquor with others, and he had taken on hire the said godown. It is alleged that petitioner nos.1 and 2 were involved in illicit liquor trade. It is submitted by the learned counsel on behalf of petitioners that they have no concern with the seized spirit which was seized from open place. Altogether 13 accused persons have been arrayed as accused and only on mere suspicion, the petitioners was arrested. Learned S.P.P. for the State has opposed the prayer for bail. 2026:JHHC:3119 Petitioner No.1 is the hotel manager from whose godown the huge quantity of liquor had been seized. Under the circumstance his bail application is rejected. General allegation of being involved in the illicit liquor trade is is levelled against Petitioner no.2 [Manoj Kumar Mahto], under the circumstances, he is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/-(Twenty-Five Thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the Court below. The instant bail application is partly allowed. (Gautam Kumar Choudhary, J.) Sandeep/ Uploaded .02.2026