Dayal Mahanta Barman v. State of West Bengal and Anr.
Bail – Section 483, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Case brief
What is this about?
Calcutta High Court, C.R.M.(M) 1314 of 2025, decided 18.08.2025 by Bivas Pattanayak, J.: bail granted under Section 483 BNSS, 2023 to Dayal Mahanta Barman in a Special POCSO case (Balurghat P.S. Case No.137 of 2025; Special POCSO Case No.40 of 2025 & PTN-1117/2025) involving charges under Sections 137(2)/140(3)/64(1)/3(5) BNS read with Section 6 POCSO Act and Sections 9/10 Prevention of Child Marriage Act. Key grounds: victim left voluntarily per her own statement; no allegation of forcible sexual assault; 130 days in custody; charge sheet submitted after completion of investigation; de facto complainant did not appear despite service. Stringent bail conditions imposed: Rs.10,000 bond with two sureties (one local), daily attendance at substantive hearings (S.317 CrPC/S.355 BNSS), no intimidation/tampering, fortnightly reporting to O/C Balurghat P.S., exclusion from Balurghat P.S. jurisdiction except court/reporting, address furnishing, and liberty to Trial Court to cancel bail on breach. Keywords: bail, minor victim, POCSO, child marriage, voluntary departure, charge sheet, stringent conditions, Balurghat, Dakshin Dinajpur.