Binod Kumar Singh, managing director of a construction company who was arrested last month for allegedly violating provisions of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, was granted bail by a local court on Thursday.

The court of additional district and sessions judge Parvez Alam issued Binod's release order with immediate effect. Binod is perhaps the first accused who has been granted bail after the new excise Act with harsher punishment was enforced in the state on October 2.

Binod was arrested on October 25 this year for allegedly storing 30 bottles of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in the Boring Road office of BK Industries Pvt Ltd falling under the jurisdiction of Sri Krishna Puri police station in the capital.

Patna High Court lawyer Abhay Shankar Singh told the court that his client had been implicated in the case by investigating officer Arvind Kishore out of personal vendetta. Kishore, a sub-inspector of police, had lodged a case in January this year against Binod for causing obstruction in discharge of official duty.

Prior to the case lodged by the police officer posted at SK Puri police station, Binod had lodged a complaint against the former (Kishore) for siding with one Phulwasi Devi. He had a dispute with Phulwasi over a plot of land in the upcoming Boring Road locality in the heart of the capital. Kishore was made the investigating officer of all the cases lodged against Binod with the SK Puri police station.

Singh told the court that his client is a teetotaller and used to speak in favour of prohibition to his acquaintances. In addition, he comes from a very reputable family and his father R.P. Singh is a retired district and sessions judge.

Apart from this, the counsel pointed out that the police didn't rely on the CCTV installed in the office of BK Industries. Moreover, the informant of the case maintained that he searched the office on October 25 this year on a tip-off provided by a source.

Although public prosecutor Onkar Pandey appearing on behalf of the State vehemently opposed the bail, additional district and sessions judge Parvez Alam was convinced with the argument of the petitioner's legal counsel and allowed the bail petition.