Sunil Kumar Sahu @ Sunil Kumar Sahoo Vs State… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Orissa HC (2026)

Sunil Kumar Sahu @ Sunil Kumar Sahoo Vs State… — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Bail granted on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) with one solvent surety for the like amount, to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case, subject to conditions: (i) petitioner shall not contact the victim or her family members and shall not visit her house or village till disposal of the case; (ii) petitioner shall not threaten, induce, influence or coerce any witnesses including the victim's family members so as to dissuade them from disclosing facts before the Court.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner should be admitted to bail in connection with Angul PS Case No.1134 of 2025 / Special (POCSO) Case No.85 of 2025, alleging molesting of the victim's mother and sexual harassment of the victim aged about less than 18 years.

Court's answer

Considering the nature and gravity of the offences alleged, the accusations sought to be brought against the petitioner, his pre-trial detention since 17.11.2025, substantial progress in investigation, and the inherent right of the accused to be presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial, the Court admitted the petitioner to bail without expressing any view on merits.

Ratio / Principle

None of the offences alleged against the petitioner is punishable beyond seven years, which weighed in favour of granting bail.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Bail under S.483 BNSS - Offences punishable U/Ss.308(6)/324(4)/351(2)/115(2)/75/78(2)/296 BNS arising out of Angul PS Case No.1134 of 2025, pending as Special (POCSO) Case No.85 of 2025 before the Additional District & Sessions Judge-cum-Special Court under POCSO Act, Angul - Main allegation of molesting the mother of the victim and sexually harassing the victim aged about less than 18 years - Petitioner in custody since 17.11.2025 with substantial progress in investigation and no offence punishable beyond seven years - Bail granted without expressing any view on merits, on bail bond of Rs.50,000/- with one solvent surety - Conditions: no contact with the victim or her family, no visit to her house or village till disposal, and no threatening, inducing, influencing or coercing of witnesses.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK BLAPL No.13349 of 2025

Sunil Kumar Sahu @ Sunil … Petitioner Kumar Sahoo

Mr. S. Sourav, Advocate

-versus-

State of Odisha and another … Opposite Parties

Mr. S.C. Pradhan, Addl. PP Mr. S. Dwibedi, Advocate (Informant) CORAM: JUSTICE G. SATAPATHY

Order No.

03.

ORDER(ORAL) 09.02.2026

This matter is taken up through Hybrid Arrangement (Virtual/Physical Mode).

This is a bail application U/S.483 of BNSS by the petitioner for grant of bail in connection with Angul PS Case No.1134 of 2025 corresponding to Special (POCSO) Case No.85 of 2025 pending in the file of learned Additional District & Sessions Judge-cum-Special Court under POCSO Act, Angul, for commission of offences punishable U/Ss.308(6)/324(4)/351(2)/115(2)/75/78(2)/ 296 of BNS, on the main allegation of molesting the mother of the victim and sexually harassing the victim aged about less than 18 years.

Heard, Mr. Sahasransu Sourav, learned counsel for the petitioner; Mr. Suryakanta Dwibedi, learned counsel for the informant and Mr. S.C. Pradhan, learned Additional Public Prosecutor in the matter and perused the record.

After having considered the rival submissions and taking into consideration the nature and gravity of

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the offences as alleged against the petitioner vis-à-vis the accusations sought to be brought against him and regard being had to the pre trial detention of the petitioner in custody since 17.11.2025 with substantial progress in investigation and none of the offences being punishable beyond seven years and taking into account the other circumstances on record in entirety including the inherent right of the accused to be presumed innocent until proven guilty at the trial, this Court without expressing any view on merits admits the petitioner to bail.

Hence, the bail application of the petitioner stands allowed and the petitioner is allowed to go on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) only with one solvent surety for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case on such terms and conditions as deem fit and proper by it with following conditions:-

(i) the petitioner shall not contact the victim or her family members. The petitioner shall not visit to the house or village of the victim till disposal of the case,

(ii) the petitioner shall not threaten, induce, influence or coerce any of the witnesses including the family members of the victim acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts before the Court.

Accordingly, the BLAPL stands disposed of. Issue urgent certified copy of the order as per Rules.

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: SUBHASMITA DAS Subhasmita Designation: Sr. Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa Date: 10-Feb-2026 14:03:12

(G. Satapathy) Signature Not Verified Judge

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