Manish Singh Vs State of Chhattisgarh — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Chhattisgarh HC (2026)

Manish Singh Vs State of Chhattisgarh — 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, for appearance as and when directed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant Manish Singh, accused in Crime No. 242 of 2025, P.S. Surajpur, for offences under Sections 65(1), 127(2), 3(5) of BNS 2023 and sections 4(2) & 17 of the POCSO Act, should be released on regular bail under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Court's answer

Having considered the submissions of counsel and perused the court statements of the victim and her parents and the overall facts of the case, the Court was inclined to release the applicant on bail, expressly without observing anything on the merits of the case.

Ratio / Principle

The bail application is allowed; the applicant is directed 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 for his appearance as and when directed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur (Single Bench, Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal, J.), order dated 03.02.2026 in MCRC No. 610 of 2026 — First application for regular bail under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 by Manish Singh (aged about 21 years), accused in Crime No. 242 of 2025, P.S. Surajpur, District Surajpur (C.G.), for offences under Sections 65(1), 127(2), 3(5) of BNS 2023 and section 4(2) & 17 of the POCSO Act, arising from the alleged abduction and forcible sexual intercourse of the prosecutrix on 18.05.2025. Counsel for the applicant pointed to the MLC report (doctor opined no sign of intercourse or sexual assault), the hostility of the victim's parents before the trial Court (who stated in cross-examination that the victim's age was 19–20 years), custody of the applicant since 21.05.2025, and pendency of trial with only 5 of 18 witnesses examined. On 28.01.2026 the victim and her mother, appearing through video conference, expressed no-objection to the grant of bail. Considering the submissions and the court statements of the victim and her parents and the overall facts, and expressly without observing anything on merits, the Court allowed the bail application and directed release of the applicant on a personal bond of Rs.25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court.

1

Digitally signed by ALLENA ALLENAANNAJEE ANNAJEE RAO RAO Date:2026.02.04 11:12:51 +0530

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

MCRC No. 610 of 2026

Manish Singh S/o Late Dhaneshwr Singh Aged About 21 Years R/o Gopalpur, Thana, Tehsil and District- Surajpur (C.G.) ... Applicant

versus

State of Chhattisgarh through- Police Station- Surajpur, District- Surajpur (C.G.) ... Respondent For the applicant : Mr. Sanjay Kumar Yadav & Mr. Nikhil Kumar Sahu, Advocates For the State : Mr. Aman Tamboli, Panel Lawyer

(Hon’ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal)

Order on Board

03.02.2026

1. This is first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant in Crime No. 242 of 2025 registered at Police Station Surajpur, District Surajpur (CG) for the offences under Sections 65(1), 127(2), 3(5) of BNS 2023 and section 4(2) & 17 of the POCSO Act.

2. The prosecution story, in brief, is that on 18.05.2025 at around 12.30 p.m., when the victim was going to her maternal grand-father’s

2

house, on the way, the present applicant Manish Singh met her and forcibly dragged her from the road and took away her to a house allegedly belonged his elder father. Subsequently on the instructions of applicant, co-accused Shobhit Singh reached there and locked the door from outside. Thereafter applicant has committed forcible sexual intercourse with her.

3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that as per the MLC report, the doctor has opined that there is no sign of intercourse or sexual assault and the applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. He further submits that the victim and her parents have been examined before the trial Court and parents have not supported the case of prosecution as they have turned hostile. He further submits that although the prosecutrix is stated to be minor, but the father and mother of victim have categorically stated in their cross examination about the age of victim to be 19-20 years. He submits that the applicant is in jail since 21.05.2025; till date out of total 18 witnesses, only 5 have been examined and there is no immediate possibility of disposal of case, therefore, the applicant may be enlarged on bail.

4. Per contra, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application and supports the prosecution case. 5. On 28.01.2026, the victim along with her mother has appeared through VC and expressed no-objection to grant bail to the applicant.

6. Having considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties and after perusal of the court statements of the victim and

3

her parents and looking to the over-all facts situation of the case, without observing anything on merits of the case, I am inclined to release the applicant on bail.

7. Accordingly, this bail application is allowed and the applicant is directed to be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in sum of Rs.25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the trial Court for his appearance before the said Court as and when directed in that behalf.

Cc as per rules.

Sd/(Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge

Rao