Rahul Dhanwar Vs the State of Jharkhand — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Jharkhand HC (2026)

Rahul Dhanwar Vs the State of Jharkhand — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Jharkhand HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petitioner directed to be released on bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the learned Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (POCSO), Simdega, in connection with Kolebira Police Station Case No. 35 of 2025, subject to the condition that one of the bailors should be a close relative of the petitioner having sufficient landed property in his own name within the State of Jharkhand.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, in custody for alleged offences under Sections 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4, 6 & 8 of the POCSO Act, should be granted bail.

Court's answer

Finding of fact: the girl had gone with the petitioner to Goa, stayed there and thereafter returned, and there was admittedly a sexual relationship between them.

Ratio / Principle

In her statement, the girl had stated that she wants to reside with the petitioner as there was a love affair.

Key takeaways

Considering the age of both the parties and the statement of the girl as recorded by the Magistrate on 02.09.2025, the court was inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.ratio¶12

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bail granted (Ananda Sen, J., High Court of Jharkhand, Ranchi, 16.02.2026) in B.A. No. 9877 of 2025 filed under Sections 483 & 484 of BNSS, 2023 by Rahul Dhanwar, in custody for offences punishable under Sections 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4, 6 & 8 of the POCSO Act (Kolebira P.S. Case No. 35 of 2025), arising from allegations that the petitioner, allegedly about 20 years old, enticed a girl aged less than 18 years and became involved in a sexual relationship with her. The court found that the girl had gone with the petitioner to Goa and thereafter returned, that there was admittedly a sexual relationship, and that in her statement (recorded by the Magistrate on 02.09.2025) the girl expressed a wish to reside with the petitioner on account of a love affair. Considering the ages of both parties and that statement, bail was granted on a bond of Rs.10,000/- with two sureties of the like amount each before the learned Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (POCSO), Simdega, conditioned on one bailor being a close relative of the petitioner owning sufficient landed property in Jharkhand.

2026:JHHC:4175

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI

B.A. No. 9877 of 2025

Rahul Dhanwar, S/o Late Vikram Dhanwar, R/o Village Kolebira, Deepatoli, P.O. Simdega, P.S. Kolebira, District Simdega, Jharkhand

.... Petitioner(s).

Versus The State of Jharkhand … Opp. Party(s).

-----CORAM : SRI ANANDA SEN, J. -----For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Zaid Ahmed, Advocate For the State : None

03/16.02.2026: This bail application has been filed under Sections 483 & 484 of BNSS, 2023 wherein, prayer has been made for grant of bail as he is in custody for allegedly committing offence punishable under Sections 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4, 6 & 8 of the POCSO Act.

Heard, learned counsel for the petitioner and have also gone through the impugned order.

It is alleged that the petitioner, who is allegedly about 20 years has enticed a girl aged less than 18 years and taken her along with him and got involved in sexual relationship.

After hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and after going through the record, I find that the girl had gone with this petitioner to Goa and stayed their and thereafter returned. Admittedly, there was sexual relationship, but the girl in her statement had stated that she wants to reside with this petitioner as there was love affair.

Considering the age of both the parties and the statement of the girl as recorded by the Magistrate on 02.09.2025, which is on record, I am inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, the petitioner, named above, is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Sessions Judgecum-Special Judge (POCSO), Simdega in connection with Kolebira

Police Station Case No.35 of 2025 subject to the condition that one of the bailors should be a close relative of the petitioner, having sufficient landed property in his own name within the State of Jharkhand.

(ANANDA SEN, J.)

16th February, 2026 R.S./ Uploaded on 16/02/2026