LOVE MAINI Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking benefit of anticipatory bail in case arising out of FIR No.119, dtd. 2/11/2025, registered under Ss. 61, 68, 1 and 14 of the Punjab Excise Act, at Police Station Mehtiana, District Hoshiarpur.

(2.) As per the allegations, on 2/11/2025, a barricade was laid outside Police Station Mehtiana, Hoshiarpur and checking of vehicles was being conducted, when a tempo reached there. On noticing the police officials, the tempo driver took reverse turn and tried to flee. The vehicle was chased and the accused Mohit, Brijesh and Jaspreet Singh, who were occupants of the same, were apprehended. On checking, 108 boxes of liquor of different make were recovered from the vehicle. The occupants failed to show any license or permit for the same. They were formally arrested. They disclosed that the recovered liquor belonged to the petitioner and he was going ahead of them in a verna vehicle. The petitioner had managed to flee. He was nominated as an accused. Apprehending his arrest, petitioner moved an application seeking pre-arrest bail, which has been dismissed by the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Hoshiarpur vide order dtd. 6/12/2025.

(3.) It is argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that he has been falsely implicated in this case on the basis of statement recorded by co-accused Mohit, who is having inimical relations with the petitioner. He has no concern with the recovered liquor. He does not own any verna car. He has already moved an application for conducting fair inquiry in the matter. He is ready to join the investigation. His custodial interrogation is not required. No recovery is to be effected from him. It is, thus, argued that the petition deserves to be allowed.