Harshwardhan Mohan Reddy vs the State of… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Bombay HC (2026)

Harshwardhan Mohan Reddy vs the State of… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Release on bail in Crime No. 279 of 2024 (Mundhwa Police Station, Dist. Pune) on furnishing a PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions: (a) not to enter Pune District till recording of evidence of the first informant and the victim, except on Court dates; (b) not to tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses; (c) to attend the concerned Police Station as and when required; the Trial Court to decide the case on its own merits uninfluenced by the observations in this order.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Applicant, arraigned in Crime No. 279 of 2024 (Mundhwa Police Station, Dist. Pune) for offences punishable under Sections 354 and 354(D) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act, is entitled to regular bail.

Court's answer

Regular bail granted: the Applicant has been behind bars for more than 20 months, the maximum sentence for the offences is five years, the investigation is completed, the chargesheet has been filed, and there is no progress in the trial.

Ratio / Principle

The Applicant is to be released on bail in Crime No. 279 of 2024 on furnishing a PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

Key takeaways

As a bail condition, the Applicant shall not enter Pune District till recording of the evidence of the first informant and the victim, except on the Court's dates.ratio¶27
The Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.ratio¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bail — Regular bail — Offences punishable under Sections 354 and 354(D) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act (Crime No. 279 of 2024, Mundhwa Police Station, Dist. Pune) — Alleged outraging of modesty of the minor daughters of the first informant on 28/06/2024 — Applicant in custody for over 20 months; investigation completed, chargesheet filed, no progress in trial; maximum sentence for the offences is five years — Bail granted on PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties — Conditions: Applicant not to enter Pune District till recording of evidence of the first informant and victim (except on Court dates), not to tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses, and to attend the concerned Police Station as required — Trial Court to decide the case on its own merits uninfluenced by the observations. (Shivkumar Dige, J.; decided 24 February 2026.)

9-BA-2170-2025 (CR).doc

Tikam

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM

BAIL APPLICATION 2170 OF 2025 Harshwardhan Mohan Reddy ...Applicant Vs.

The State of Maharashtra And Anr. ...Respondents

Digitally signed by VAISHALI ANIL TIKAM Date: 2026.02.26 15:59:42 +0530

Ms. Pooja Sursure i/by Mr. Saransh Sonar, Advocate for Applicant. Mrs. M.G. Patil, APP for Respondent-State.

Mr. Ashwet Bhoir, Advocate for Respondent No.2 API Mali, Mundhawa Police Station present.

CORAM : SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J. DATE : 24^th FEBRUARY, 2026.

P.C. :

Heard learned counsel for the Applicant and learned APP for

the State.

By this Application, the Applicant is seeking regular bail in Crime No. 279 of 2024 registered with Mundhwa Police Station, Dist. Pune for the offences punishable under Sections 354 and 354(D) of the Indian Pena Code, 1860 and Sections 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act).

It is prosecution's case that on 28/06/2024, Applicant outraged modesty of the minor daughters of the first informant.

It is contention of learned counsel for the Applicant that Applicant is behind bars more than 20 months. There is no progress in the

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trial. Investigation is completed and requested to allow the Application.

It is contention of learned APP and learned counsel for respondent Nos. that Applicant has 15 antecedents. He outraged modesty of minor girls aged 13 years and 14 years. If he is released on bail, he may threaten victims and prosecution witnesses and requested to reject the Application.

I have heard all learned counsel. Perused charge-sheet and documents produced on record.

The Applicant is behind bars more than 20 months. The maximum sentence imposed for the offences committed by the Applicant is five years. Investigation is completed. Chargesheet has been filed. There is no progress in the trial.

Considering these facts, I pass following order.

ORDER

(i) The Applicant- Harshwardhan Mohan Reddy be released on bail in Crime No. 279 of 2024 registered with Mundhwa Police Station, Dist. Pune, on furnishing PR bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or two solvent sureties in the like amount.

(ii) Applicant shall not enter in Pune District till recording evidence of first informant and victim, except attending the Court's dates

(iii) The Applicant shall not tamper with the evidence and/or

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influence the prosecution witnesses.

(iv) The Trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits and in accordance with law, uninfluenced by the observations made in this order.

(v) The Applicant shall attend the concerned Police Station as and when required.

(vi) Application is allowed in the aforesaid terms.

(SHIVKUMAR DIGE, J.)

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