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IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE E.V.VENUGOPAL WRIT PETITION No.9759 of 2026

DATE OF ORDER: 01.04.2026

Between:

Jadhav Jayavanth Rao ...Petitioner

AND

The State of Telangana, Represented by its Principal Secretary, Department of Prohibition and Excise,

Secretariat, Hyderabad, and 2 others

...Respondents

ORDER :

This Writ Petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is filed seeking the following relief:

“….to issue a Writ, Order or Direction particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondents in not releasing the petitioner’s vehicle bearing Registration No.TS01EQ1064 Honda Activa 125 BSVI Chassis No.ME4JK131KMW000477 Engine No JK13EW0000527 seized in Crime No.114/2026 dated 09.02.2026 of P.S Adilabad-I Town as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct respondent Nos.2 and 3

to release the petitioners vehicle forthwith.…”

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2. Heard Sri Soma Ravi Kiran Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner; Sri M.Arun Kumar, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Excise appearing for respondent Nos.1 and 2 and Sri M.Srinivas, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing for respondent No.3 and with their consent, this writ petition is being taken up

for disposal at the admission stage.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is the absolute owner and lawful possessor of Honda Activa vehicle bearing registration No.TS 01 EQ 1064. On 09.02.2026, respondent No.3 seized the above vehicle alleging that the petitioner was transporting Royal Stag 375 180 ML (5) bottles, Blunders Pride 375 ML (04) Bottles and registered a case in Crime No.114 of 2026 under Section 34(a) of Telangana State Excise Act, 1968. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the said vehicle is the only means of transport and earning to the petitioner, therefore the continued seizure of the vehicle would cause severe hardship and financial loss to the petitioner and the continued retention of the vehicle without initiating

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confiscation proceedings amounts to violation of principles of natural justice and seeks a direction to respondents to

forthwith release the said vehicle.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that in similar circumstances, the order dated 28.01.2026 was passed by this Court in W.P.No.2293 of 2026 and prayed this Court to pass similar orders in this writ petition. 5. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Prohibition

and Excise, has not disputed the above submissions.

6. Having considered the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Excise, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of this writ petition directing the petitioner to approach respondent No.2 by making appropriate application for release of the vehicle. Upon such application being filed, respondent No.2 is directed to examine all the documents pertaining to the vehicle and release the same subject to the condition of depositing the original R.C.Book before the authority concerned and the said authority shall release the

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vehicle after obtaining an undertaking that the petitioner shall not change the nature of the vehicle and not to alienate the said vehicle and upon depositing security in the form of

F.D.R. for Rs.20,000/-.

7. With the above observations, this writ petition is

disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending,

shall stand closed.

_____________________

E.V.VENUGOPAL, J Dated: 01.04.2026

sus/spd