Mr. Inderjit Singh, J. - Petitioner-Bhupinder Singh has filed this petition under Section 438 Cr.P.C. for grant of anticipatory bail in case FIR No.10 dated 16.01.2018, registered at Police Station Cantonment, District Amritsar City, under Sections 61/1/14 of the Punjab Excise Act.

2. Notice of motion was issued in this case.

3. Learned State counsel has appeared on behalf of the respondent-State and contested this petition.

4. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned State counsel and have gone through the record.

5. As per the allegation in the FIR, the present petitioner was not apprehended from the spot. Only secret information was against him. As per the prosecution, 97 bottles of illicit liquor from a plastic can were recovered.

6. In pursuance of the interim order dated 08.02.2018, passed by this Court, the petitioner has already joined the investigation. Recovery has already been effected. He is not required for custodial interrogation. No useful purpose would be served by sending the petitioner to custody.

7. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the present case; without discussing the facts of the case in minute details and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, I find merit in this petition and the same is allowed. The order dated 08.02.2018, granting interim bail to the petitioner, is made absolute. However, the petitioner shall join the investigation as and when called upon to do so and shall abide by the conditions of Section 438 (2) Cr.P.C.