Auction of seized vehicles held under supervision; revenue credited to treasury
The Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department, Bhagalpur, completed a public auction of 13 vehicles that had been seized and confiscated under the Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. The sale was conducted at the departmental office and supervised by a specially constituted vehicle committee to ensure transparency and compliance with statutory norms.
The vehicle committee included the district supply officer, accounts officer, additional district transport officer, motor vehicle inspector and the assistant commissioner (prohibition), Bhagalpur. According to official information released after the auction, the process followed clearances and procedures laid down in an SOP the department had published on its official portal in the first week of August 2026.
- Number of vehicles auctioned: 13
- Legal authority: Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016
- Revenue realised: ₹1.5 lakh
Bhagalpur District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey said the auction generated ₹1.5 lakh for the government treasury. She described the action as an important step towards effective implementation of the Act and the proper disposal of seized government assets as per statutory norms and the departmental SOP.
"The action was an important step towards effective implementation of the Prohibition and Excise Act and proper disposal of seized and confiscated government assets as per statutory norms and the SOP," the district magistrate said.
Procedure and local implications
Officials said the committee completed necessary legal clearances and fixed reserve prices for the cars and bikes before the auction. Notices and SOP details were published on the department's portal to invite participation and to ensure an open process. The presence of the transport and accounts officers on the supervising panel was intended to verify documentation, valuation and the financial settlement of the sale.
For Bhagalpur residents, the disposal of seized vehicles has practical implications:
- It frees departmental space and reduces the carrying cost of storing unclaimed or seized vehicles.
- It channels modest receipts into the government treasury, which can be used for statutory purposes.
- It signals administrative attention to following the SOP and legal process, potentially reducing allegations of arbitrary disposal.
Record and compliance details
Available statements indicate the department followed a three-stage approach before auctioning the vehicles: legal clearance, reserve price fixation and public notice of the auction and SOP. The departmental release did not list the make or condition of the individual vehicles, nor the number of bidders who participated in the auction. Officials said further action regarding other seized assets would continue as per existing rules.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicles auctioned | 13 |
| Statute | Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 |
| Revenue realised | ₹1.5 lakh |
| SOP published | First week of August 2026 |
Officials emphasised that auctions of seized items must conform to statutory requirements to prevent legal challenges. The department's statement said the committee ensured the process was transparent and compliant; the district magistrate indicated similar auctions and disposals would proceed according to rules in future.
Local stakeholders — including transport and trade groups in Bhagalpur — will watch how the excise department manages further disposals, particularly whether valuation standards and public notices attract competitive bidding to maximise returns for the treasury. For now, the exercise has provided a modest revenue boost and closed a chapter on the specific batch of seized vehicles.
