Suresh Shobhiraj Chavan vs State of Maharashtra… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Bombay HC (2026)

Suresh Shobhiraj Chavan vs State of Maharashtra… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Release of the applicant Suresh Shobhiraj Chavan on bail in connection with C.R. No. 69 of 2025 registered with Faujdar Chawadi Police Station, Solapur, District Solapur, on executing a P.R. Bond of Rs. 15,000/- with one surety in the like amount, with a direction that the applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence.

Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant, arraigned in C.R. No. 69 of 2025 of Faujdar Chawadi Police Station, Solapur, for offences under Sections 323, 376(2)(i), 376(2)(n), 376(2)(j), 504, 506 read with 34 IPC, Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and Sections 9 and 11 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, should be released on bail. +1 more

Court's answer

The applicant is admittedly not involved in the commission of the offence under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code or under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012; he is the father-in-law of the informant/victim.

Ratio / Principle

In the facts of the present case, custodial interrogation of the applicant is not necessary.

Key takeaways

Twenty witnesses are cited in the charge-sheet, charge is not framed as yet, and the trial is therefore not likely to conclude in the near future.ratio¶3
The bail application is allowed: the applicant Suresh Shobhiraj Chavan is to be released on bail in connection with C.R. No. 69 of 2025 on executing a P.R. Bond of Rs. 15,000/- with one surety in the like amount, subject to the condition that he shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence.ratio¶4

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bombay High Court (Kolhapur Circuit Bench), Criminal Bail Application No. 3333 of 2025, decided on 20 January 2026 by Nitin B. Suryawanshi, J.: Bail granted to the applicant, Suresh Shobhiraj Chavan, father-in-law of the informant/victim, in C.R. No. 69 of 2025 of Faujdar Chawadi Police Station, Solapur, District Solapur, registered for offences punishable under Sections 323, 376(2)(i), 376(2)(n), 376(2)(j), 504, 506 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and Sections 9 and 11 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. The learned APP and learned advocate for the informant strenuously opposed the application, contending that the applicant played an active role in the offence alleged in the F.I.R. The Court noted that the charge-sheet was filed on 8 April 2025 and the case numbered as Sessions Case No. 102 of 2025; that the applicant was admittedly not involved in the commission of the offence under Section 376 IPC or the POCSO Act provisions; that 20 witnesses were cited and charge was not framed, so the trial was not likely to conclude in the near future; and that custodial interrogation of the applicant was not necessary. Bail allowed on executing a P.R. Bond of Rs. 15,000/- with one surety in the like amount, conditioned on the applicant not tampering with the prosecution evidence.

1

66-BA-3333-2025 (CR).DOC

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 3333 OF 2025

Suresh Shobhiraj Chavan ...Applicant Versus State Of Maharashtra And Anr. ...Respondents

Mr. Saurabh Tandale a/w Mr. Abdul Qadhir Auti, Mr. Pratik Jadhav, Mr. Shivratna Wagh for the applicant

Mr. P. P. Deokar APP for the State.

CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J. DATE : 20^th JANUARY 2026.

P.C.

IRESH MASHAL

Digitally signed by IRESH MASHAL Date: 2026.01.21 20:27:33 +0530

By this application, the applicant seeks bail in C. R. No. 69 of 2025 registered with Faujdar Chawadi Police Station, Solapur, District Solapur for the offence punishable under Sections 323, 376(2)(i), 376(2)(n), 376(2)(j), 504, 506 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and under Sections 9 and 11 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

Learned APP and learned advocate for the informant have strenuously opposed the the application stating that the applicant has played active role in commission of the offence alleged in the F.I.R. and therefore, he may not be released on bail.

Iresh

2

66-BA-3333-2025 (CR).DOC

The charge-sheet in the present crime is filed on 8^th April 2025 and the case is numbered as Sessions Case No. 102 of 2025. Admittedly, the applicant is not involved in the commission of the offence under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code or under the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. He is father-in-law of the informant/victim. In the charge-sheet, 20 witnesses are cited. Even charge is not framed as yet. The trial is therefore, not likely to conclude in the near future. In the facts of the present case, custodial interrogation of the applicant is not necessary. 4. Hence, application is allowed. The applicant Suresh Shobhiraj Chavan be released on bail in connection with C. R. No. 69 of 2025 registered with Faujdar Chawadi Police Station, Solapur, District Solapur for the offence punishable under Sections 323, 376(2)(i), 376(2)(n), 376(2)(j), 504, 506 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and under Sections 9 and 11 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 on executing P.R. Bond in the sum of Rs. 15,000/- with one surety in the like amount. The applicant shall not tamper the prosecution evidence.

(NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J.)

Iresh