Allowed

Bajrang Panika v. State of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh HC15 Sept 2026MCRC/5854/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

This High Court granted regular bail to a 22-year-old applicant accused of luring and sexually assaulting a minor under the POCSO Act. The release order was based on the victim's express lack of objection to bail during court appearance and her denial of the prosecution's allegations at trial, despite the serious charges filed.

What did the court decide?

Released on bail by executing a personal bond of Rs. 50,000/- to the satisfaction of the trial court on conditions of availability for interrogation and non-interference.

Bajrang Panika Vs State of Chhattisgarh — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Chhattisgarh HC (2026)

CGHC010242222026

2026:CGHC:40392

NAFR

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

¶6

MCRC No. 5854 of 2026

¶7

Bajrang Panika S/o Bhishm Panika Aged About 22 Years R/o Village Bodri Police Station Bargarh District Gadhwa Jharkhand ... Applicant

¶8

versus

¶9

State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Office Out Post Ganeshmod Police Station Balrampur District Balrampur Ramanujganj C.G.

¶10

	... Non-applicant
For Applicant	: Mr. Rahul Dewangan, Advocate
For Non-Applicant	: Mr. Nitansh Jaiswal, Dy. G.A.

¶11

Hon’ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey

¶12

Order on Board

¶13

16.09.2026

¶14

1. This is the First bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 15/2026 registered at Out Post- Ganeshmod, Police Station : Balrampur, District- Balrampur Ramanujganj (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 137(2), 64(2)(M), 65(1), 69 and 87 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 5(1) and 6 of the POCSO Act.

¶15

¶16

2. The prosecution story in brief is that the mother of the victim lodged a report on 01.10.2024 at Police Station Balrampur, stating that on 29.09.2024, her daughter left without informing anyone and has not returned home to date. She expressed suspicion that an unknown person has enticed and lured her daughter away. On the basis of allegation, police arrested present applicant and registered offence as stated above.

¶17

3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is a 22-year old innocent boy who has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further submits that prosecutrix, her mother and brother have been examined before the learned Trial Court where they have not supported the case of prosecution. He also submits that the applicant has no criminal antecedents and he is in jail since 26.01.2026, conclusion of the trial may take some time, therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the present applicant.

¶18

4. On the other hand, the learned State counsel opposes the bail application of the present applicant and submits that the present applicant/accused lured the minor girl and sexually assaulted her, therefore, the applicant is not entitled for grant of regular bail.

¶19

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

¶20

¶21

6. It transpires that victim appeared before this Court on 12.08.2026 through video conferencing and submitted that she has no objection in granting bail to the applicant. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and from perusal of the evidence of the victim recorded before the learned Trial Court, it appears that victim has not supported the case of prosecution and denied the suggestions put forth by the public prosecutor. Also considering the fact that the charge-sheet has already been submitted before the competent Court and the applicant has been in jail since 26.01.2026, the trial is likely to take sometime for its conclusion, I am of the opinion that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case.

¶22

7. It is directed that in the event of the applicant executing a personal bond for a sum of Rs. 50,000/- to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court, he shall be released on bail on the following conditions:-

¶23

(a) he shall make himself available for interrogation by the police officer as and when required;

¶24

(b)he shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court; and

¶25

¶26

¶27

The observation made hereinabove is for the purpose of deciding this bail application only, the learned trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits.

¶28

Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) JUDGE

¶29

A j i n k y a Digitally signed by AJINKYA PANSARE Date: 2026.09.16 14:21:14 +0530

Bajrang Panika v. State of Chhattisgarh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Bajrang Panika v. State of Chhattisgarh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases