Alok Kaunri @ Alod Vs State of Odisha — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Orissa HC (2026)

Alok Kaunri @ Alod Vs State of Odisha — Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petitioner admitted to bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-five Thousand) only with one solvent surety for the like amount, to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case, on terms and conditions deemed fit by that Court, subject to: (i) no contact with the victim and no visit to her house or place of residence till disposal of the case; (ii) no threatening, inducing, influencing or coercing of witnesses including the victim's family members so as to dissuade them from disclosing facts before the Court; and (iii) no following the victim or loitering in or around her at any place; soft copy of the order to be communicated to the concerned Court and, through it, to the concerned Jail by e-mail.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, charged for offences punishable under Sections 137(2)/296/351(2)/64(2)(m) of BNS r/w Section 6(1) of POCSO Act in Bamunigaon PS Case No.62 of 2025 / CT Case No.45 of 2025, should be granted bail under Section 483 of BNSS. +1 more

Court's answer

After considering the rival submissions, the nature and gravity of the offences alleged, the petitioner's pre-trial detention in custody since 25.07.2025, the examination of the victim in the meantime leaving little apprehension of tampering with the evidence of the material witness, the other circumstances on record in entirety, and the inherent right of the accused-petitioner to be presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial, this Court, without expressing any view on merits, admits the petitioner to bail.

Ratio / Principle

The petitioner is allowed to go on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-five 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.

Key takeaways

Condition (i) of bail: the petitioner shall not contact the victim in any way or in any manner and shall not visit the house or place of residence of the victim till disposal of the case.ratio¶16
Condition (ii) of bail: 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.ratio¶17

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Orissa at Cuttack (Justice G. Satapathy, oral order dated 27.07.2026), BLAPL No.1945 of 2026: bail application under S.483 BNSS by Alok Kaunri @ Alod, accused of offences punishable under Ss.137(2)/296/351(2)/64(2)(m) BNS r/w S.6(1) POCSO Act (alleged kidnapping of the victim and commission of rape and aggravated penetrative sexual assault upon her) in Bamunigaon PS Case No.62 of 2025 corresponding to CT Case No.45 of 2025 pending before the learned Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (POCSO) Act, Phulbani. Having regard to the nature and gravity of the offences, the petitioner's pre-trial detention in custody since 25.07.2025, the examination of the victim in the meantime leaving little apprehension of tampering with the evidence of the material witness, the circumstances on record in entirety and the accused's inherent right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial, the Court, without expressing any view on merits, admitted the petitioner to bail on a bond of Rs.25,000/- with one solvent surety for the like amount, imposing conditions that he shall not contact the victim or visit her house/place of residence till disposal of the case, shall not threaten, induce, influence or coerce witnesses including the victim's family members so as to dissuade them from disclosing facts before the Court, and shall not follow the victim or loiter in or around her at any place. The BLAPL stands disposed of.