Sagar Gautam Sable v. the State of Maharashtra and Another
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench - Criminal Appeal No. 112 of 2024 (with Criminal Application No. 2509 of 2025), decided 12 January 2026 by Rajnish R. Vyas, J. Partly allowed appeal against Special Judge (POCSO), Aurangabad conviction (Special Case (POCSO) No. 383/2021, dated 12.12.2023): acquitted under S.376-AB IPC and S.4(2) POCSO Act for want of proof of penetration (leading-question answer in examination-in-chief disregarded; no injury per PW-5 medical officer); maintained convictions under S.363 IPC (kidnapping from lawful guardianship), S.354-A(2) IPC and S.8 POCSO Act; minor victim born 19.09.2010; presumptions under Ss.29-30 POCSO Act unrebutted; S.313 CrPC queries unanswered convincingly; refers to S. Varadarajan AIR 1965 SC 942 and Ganesan AIR 2020 SC 5019 (sterling witness standard, quoting Rai Sandeep (2012) 8 SCC 21).
What did the court decide?
Criminal Appeal partly allowed: convictions under Sections 363 and 354-A(2) IPC and Section 8 of the POCSO Act maintained; appellant acquitted under Section 376-AB IPC and Section 4(2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act; pending Criminal Applications disposed of; fees of appointed advocate Mr. Vishal Chavan to be quantified by the High Court Legal Services Sub-Committee, Aurangabad.