IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Cr.Misc. No.15684 of 2009 MUNNA KUMAR SAH @ RAMESH KUMAR SAH, son of late Ramdayal Sah, resident of Village- Kuruthian, P. S. Bogen Gola, District Buxar … Petitioner. Versus STATE OF BIHAR ----------- 3. 10.11.2009. Heard counsel for the petitioner and counsel for the State. The petitioner facing prosecution for offence under Sections 489(a), 489(B), 498(C)/120 of the Indian Penal Code, prays for bail on the ground that he has been falsely been implicated in this case by the police and there was nothing to substantiate the allegation against the petitioner being involved in dealing with counterfeit currencies notes. Counsel for the petitioner in this regard would also emphasize that the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent and is in custody since 4.11.2008. Said submissions would have been accepted if the petitioner was not nabbed at the spot by the police party and no recovery of such fake currencies notes could have been made from the conscious possession of the petitioner as is acknowledged by him in the 2 seizure-list duly signed by him. This Court will have to take into account that the prima facie reason to believe that the petitioner was involved in dealing with counterfeit currency notes is not without any basis. The maximum punishment for such offence is R. I for 10 years and therefore when the petitioner has remained in jail only for almost one year that also would not be a valid circumstance to release the petitioner on bail. However, as this would be a case based primarily on the evidence of police officials, the trial of the petitioner may be expedited and preferably concluded within a period of one and a half years from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order. In the event, the trial of the petitioner would not be concluded in the aforementioned period, he will have a liberty to initially move the trial court for bail and the trial court will be under obligation to record reasons for not concluding the trial. Only thereafter, the petitioner may renew his prayer for bail before this court. 3 With the aforementioned observations and directions, this application is dismissed. kanchan (Mihir Kumar Jha, J.)