Meera Devi vs The State Of Bihar on 29 August, 2025

Supreme Court – Daily Orders

Meera Devi vs The State Of Bihar on 29 August, 2025

                                       IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
                                      CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

                                     CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.        OF 2025
                                        (@ SLP(CRL.) NO. 10020/2025)

                      MEERA DEVI                                                     Appellant(s)

                                                             VERSUS

                      THE STATE OF BIHAR                                          Respondent(s)

                                                        O R D E R

Leave granted.

This appeal challenges the order dated 28.04.2025

passed by the High Court of Judicature at Patna in

Criminal Miscellaneous No.13074 of 2025.

Apprehending arrest in connection with crime

registered pursuant to FIR No.1099 of 2024 dated

21.09.2024 lodged with the Excise and Prohibition Police

Station Kishanganj, District Kishanganj in respect of the

offences punishable under Sections 30(a) and 32(3) of the

Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, 2018 (“Bihar

Prohibition & Excise Act” for short), the appellant

preferred an application before the High Court seeking

anticipatory bail in terms of Section 482 of the Bharatiya

Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (“BNSS” for short).
Signature Not Verified

Digitally signed by
RADHA SHARMA
Date: 2025.08.29
15:56:39 IST
Reason:

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The application for anticipatory bail having been

rejected by the High Court vide the impugned order dated

28.04.2025, the instant appeal has been preferred.

By order dated 18.07.2025, while issuing notice, this

Court passed the following order:

“Issue notice to the respondents, returnable on

29.08.2025.

Ms. Rishi K.Awasthi, learned counsel takes
notice for the respondent-State.

Petitioner’s counsel to serve copy of the
memorandum of Special Leave Petition on learned
counsel for the respondent-State.

Till the next date of hearing, no coercive steps
shall be taken as against the petitioner herein vis-
a-vis FIR NO.1099 OF 2024 dated 21.09.2024 of the
Police Station Kishanganj.”

We have heard learned counsel in support of the

appellant and learned counsel for the respondent-State and

perused the material on record.

Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that only

because the appellant is the registered owner of the car

in which the liquor was found and seized, she has also

been implicated in the offence along with two other

accused. He further submitted that the other two co-

accused have been granted regular bail but having regard

2
to the distinctive fact which are applicable to the

appellant herein, the relief of anticipatory bail may be

granted to the appellant as she is not involved in the

incident as such, by setting aside the impugned order of

the High Court.

Per contra, learned standing counsel for the

respondent-State with reference to his counter affidavit

submitted that the High Court was justified in dismissing

the plea of the appellant for anticipatory bail and there

is no merit in this appeal. He further submitted that the

chargesheet has been filed as against the appellant

herein.

Considering the circumstances on record, in our view,

the appellant is entitled to the relief claimed under

Section 482 of BNSS.

We, therefore, allow this appeal and set aside the

order passed by the High Court dated 28.04.2025. We direct

that in the event of arrest of the appellant, the

Arresting Officer shall release the appellant on bail

subject to furnishing cash security in the sum of

Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand only) with two

like sureties.

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It is directed that the appellant shall extend

complete cooperation in the ensuing trial. The appellant

shall not misuse her liberty and shall not in any way

influence the witnesses or tamper with the material on

record.

With the aforesaid directions, the Criminal Appeal is

allowed.

………………………………………………………,J.

( B.V. NAGARATHNA )

…………………………………………………………,J.

( R. MAHADEVAN )
NEW DELHI;

AUGUST 29, 2025




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ITEM NO.4                     COURT NO.5                    SECTION II-A

                 S U P R E M E C O U R T O F       I N D I A
                         RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 10020/2025
[Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 28-04-2025
in CRLM No. 13074/2025 passed by the High Court of Judicature at
Patna]

MEERA DEVI Petitioner(s)

VERSUS

THE STATE OF BIHAR Respondent(s)

(IA No. 160755/2025 – EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.)

Date : 29-08-2025 This matter was called on for hearing today.

CORAM :

HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE B.V. NAGARATHNA
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE R. MAHADEVAN

For Petitioner(s) Mr. Kunwar Siddhartha, Adv.

Mr. Yash Pal, Adv.

Mr. Ashutosh Yadav, AOR

For Respondent(s) Mr. Rishi K Awasthi, Adv.

Mr. Piyush Vatsa, Adv.

Mr. Rahul Kumar Gupta, Adv.
Mr. Punit Vinay, AOR

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R

Leave granted.

The Criminal Appeal is allowed in terms of the

signed order.

Pending application(s), if any, shall stand

disposed of.

(RADHA SHARMA)                                  (DIVYA BABBAR)
ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS                        COURT MASTER (NSH)

(SIGNED ORDER IS PLACED ON THE FILE)

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