Patna, Bihar: The Patna High Court has delivered a landmark judgment in a case involving the irregular auction of a vehicle seized under Bihar’s liquor prohibition laws. The bench, comprising Justice Rajeev Ranjan Prasad and Justice Sourendra Pandey, criticized officials for flouting mandatory procedures and directed restitution to the affected vehicle owner.
The case pertains to a 2020-seized Scorpio (S-9 model) in Muzaffarpur district. The court noted that a vehicle valued at ₹12.12 lakh was auctioned for merely ₹3.85 lakh. Shockingly, the owner was neither served a prior notice nor given an opportunity to present their side before the auction. Authorities reportedly seized and bulk-auctioned 490 vehicles in a single order.
Transparency and Collusion Concerns
The High Court raised serious questions about the transparency of the auction process. Notices in newspapers, as required by law, were not published. Moreover, evidence suggested certain buyers repeatedly acquired multiple vehicles, indicating possible collusion between officials and buyers. The valuation process itself was found highly questionable, with luxury vehicles sold at prices far below market value.
Orders for Refund and Action Against Officials
The court directed the state government to refund the Scorpio owner ₹12,12,517 with 6% annual interest. Additionally, ₹10,000 was ordered for litigation costs. The judgment explicitly instructed that the amount be recovered from the officials responsible for the procedural violations. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) has been tasked with conducting a detailed investigation and initiating prosecution against the guilty officials.
The ruling sends a strong message against bureaucratic malpractices and emphasizes strict adherence to legal procedures in seized vehicle auctions.
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