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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
B.P.ROUTRAY
Umesh Patra – Appellant
Versus
State of Odisha – Respondent
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. challenge to confiscation orders. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. vehicle seized under the excise act. (Para 3 , 4) |
| 3. circumstances of the seizure explained. (Para 5 , 6) |
| 4. defense claimed ignorance of excisable article. (Para 7 , 8) |
| 5. independence of confiscation from criminal proceedings. (Para 9 , 10) |
| 6. mens rea and procedural fairness in confiscation. (Para 11 , 12) |
| 7. authority must be satisfied with reasons for confiscation. (Para 13 , 14) |
| 8. writ petition remanded for fresh hearing. (Para 15) |
JUDGMENT :
B.P. ROUTRAY, J.
1. The writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned orders of the Appellate Authority dated 2nd December 2025 and the Original Confiscating Authority dated 16th July 2025 in Annexures-2 & 1 respectively.
2. I have heard Ms.Pattnaik, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Mr.Tripathy, learned Additional Government Advocate for State-Opposite Parties.
3. The Petitioner is the owner of the car bearing Registration No.OD-11AD-1256 (Maruti Suzik Celerio ZLX) and the vehicle was seized and confiscated in terms of the proceeding initiated under Section 71 of the Odisha Excise Act.
4. It is submitted on behalf of the Petitioner that the order of confiscation passe
The court held that evidence must sufficiently establish vehicle involvement in offences, and the claimant must prove no knowledge or participation in illegal activities for release from confiscation....
Confiscation of a vehicle under the Odisha Excise Act requires evidence of its involvement in an offence, and procedural fairness must be upheld, allowing the petitioner an opportunity to prove lack ....
The appropriate authority under the Odisha Excise Act must initiate confiscation proceedings; an unauthorized initiation cannot bar the owner's right to reclaim a seized vehicle.
Confiscation proceedings under the M.P. Excise Act are independent of criminal trials, and an acquittal does not invalidate a confiscation order.
Confiscation of a vehicle under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act requires direct involvement of the owner in the offense; without such involvement, confiscation orders are deemed arbitrary and un....
Confiscation of a vehicle under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act requires evidence of the owner's consent or involvement in illegal activities; failure to establish this renders confiscation inva....
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