Harishankar Pav @ Bablu Vs State of… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Chhattisgarh HC (2026)

Harishankar Pav @ Bablu Vs State of… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Chhattisgarh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Regular bail granted: applicant to be released on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court, with a direction to appear before the trial Court on each and every date till disposal of the trial; observations in the order not to affect the trial.

Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant, arrested in connection with Crime No. 315/2025 of Police Station Pusour, District Raigarh, for offences under Sections 137(2), 87, 64(1) of BNS and Section 4(1) of POCSO Act, should be released on regular bail.

Court's answer

After hearing learned counsel for the parties and perusing the case diary, and considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the Court statement of the victim, the Court was inclined to release the applicant on bail at this stage without commenting on the merits of the case.

Ratio / Principle

A material basis for granting bail was that the applicant is in custody since 25.11.2025 and the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude.

Key takeaways

The applicant is to be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court; he is directed to appear before the trial Court on each and every date till disposal of the trial, and it is made clear that any observation made in the order shall not affect the trial of the case.ratio¶23

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bail — Regular bail granted (first bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023). Applicant, a 22-year-old student, arrested in Crime No. 315/2025, Police Station Pusour, District Raigarh (C.G.), for offences punishable under Sections 137(2), 87, 64(1) of BNS and Section 4(1) of POCSO Act, on the prosecution's allegation that on 23.11.2025 at about 11:30 pm he seduced the minor victim, took her up from her lawful guardianship and committed sexual intercourse with her on the pretext of marriage. Counsel for the applicant urged innocence, noting 3 of 21 listed witnesses (victim, her mother and father) examined and that the victim was a consenting party; counsel for the State opposed, pointing to the victim's minority; the victim and her father objected through video conference from the DLSA. Considering the facts, the Court statement of the victim, custody of the applicant since 25.11.2025 and the likelihood of the trial taking considerable time, the Court, without commenting on merits, released the applicant on bail on a personal bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court, directing attendance on every trial date and clarifying that its observations would not affect the trial.

1

NAFR

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 2680 of 2026

1 - Harishankar Pav @ Bablu S/o Sitaram Pav Aged About 22 Years Occupation Student Resident Of Navapali Police Station Pusour District- Raigarh (Chhattisgarh)

... Applicant

versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Officer Police Station Pusour District- Raigarh Chhattisgarh,

... Respondent

For Applicant : Mr. Prabhat Kumar Saxena, Adv. For State : Mr. Aman Tamrakar, P.L.

Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal

Order on Board

02/04/2026

1. This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 315/2025 registered at Police Station – Pusour, District Raigarh (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 137(2), 87, 64(1) of BNS and Section 4(1) of POCSO Act.

2. As per the prosecution’s case, it is alleged that on 23.11.2025, at about 11:30 pm the applicant/accused, seduced the minor victim and taken up from her lawful guardianship and on the pretext of marriage committed sexual intercourse with the minor victim. Based on this, offence has been registered against the present applicant.

Digitally signed by HEERA HEERA LAL LAL SAHUDate: SAHU 2026.04.02 16:49:36 +0530

3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is

2

innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that there are a total of 21 listed witnesses in this case, out of which 3 witnesses, i.e., the victim, her mother and her father, has been examined. The victim is a consenting party. The applicant is in jail since 25.11.2025, and the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude. Therefore, he prays for the grant of regular bail to the applicant.

4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State opposed the bail application and submits that the victim was minor at the time of incident.

5. The victim and her father appeared through V.C. from the concerned DLSA and raised objection to grant of bail to the applicant.

6. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary.

7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and looking to the Court statement of the victim, and also considering the fact that the applicant is in custody since 25.11.2025, and the trial is likely to take considerable time, therefore, at this stage, without commenting on merits of the case, I am inclined to release the applicant on bail.

8. Accordingly, the application is allowed and it is directed that the applicant shall be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs. 25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court. The applicant is directed to appear before the trial Court on each and every date to be given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. It is made clear that any observation made by this Court in this order shall not affect the trial of the case.

9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith.

Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge

H.L. Sahu