The court orally allowed bail to the petitioner in a POCSO and IPC 376 case, considering doubts regarding the assault based on victim statements and absence of adverse medical findings, ordered for furnishing a bond with sureties.
Allowed release on bail with a bond of Rupees Ten Thousand and two sureties of the like amount.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.31759 of 2022
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-103 Year-2022 Thana- KASBA District- Purnia
======================================================
Ram Kumar Sharma @ Ram Kumar Son Of Ratan Sharma Resident Of Village - Madorghat, Sharma Tola Ward No.-12 P.S.- Kasba, Dist.- Purnea.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Praveen Kumar Agrawal, Advocate For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Navin Kumar Pandey, APP For the Informant : Mr. Dhiraj Kumar, Advocate ======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA SHEKHAR JHA
ORAL ORDER
4 14-02-2023 Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State and learned counsel appearing on behalf of Informant.
Let the defect(s), if any, be removed within a period of four weeks from today.
The petitioner seeks bail in connection with Kasba P.S. Case No. 103 of 2022 registered for the offence under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code & 4 of POCSO Act.
The accused/petitioner is named in the F.I.R. and is in custody since 09.04.2022.
The allegation against the petitioner is to commit penetrative sexual assault upon the daughter of the informant,
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.31759 of 2022(4) dt.14-02-2023 2/3
aged about 14 years, while she was sleeping with family members in a closed room after lifting her in arm upto roof of the house.
Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that petitioner was falsely implicated in this case out of neighbourhood disputes and differences. It is further submitted that the implication was to create a legal pressure to negotiate marriage with petitioner. It is also submitted that from bare perusal of statement of victim, as recorded under Section 164 of Cr.P.C., as mentioned in para 30 of the case diary, it appears that mere an attempt was made on behalf of petitioner and it is not a case of penetrative sexual assault. It is also submitted that it is quite impossible to enter into a room, which was admittedly, locked from inside and lift the victim up to roof as alleged. While treavelling over the argument, it is submitted that nothing adverse can be gathered from the medical report of the victim, where no recent sexual assault was noticed. While concluding the argument, it is submitted that petitioner is a man of clean antecedent and moreover, investigation of this case is completed, for which charge-sheet has been submitted, as such, there is no chance of tampering with the evidence.
Learned APP, duly assisted by learned counsel, Mr.
Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.31759 of 2022(4) dt.14-02-2023 3/3
Dhiraj Kumar, appearing on behalf of the informant, while opposing the prayer of bail submitted that allegation of rape is specific against this petitioner.
Considering the facts and circumstances as mentioned above, as statement of victim recorded under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C., creates a doubt as to whether penetrative sexual assault was committed upon, coupled with the fact that chargesheet has been submitted, let the petitioner, above named, is directed to be released on bail in connection with Kasba P.S. Case No. 103 of 2022 on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned eight Addl. Session Judge Cum Special Judge (POCSO), Purnea/concerned Court, subject to the conditions as mentioned under Section 437(3) of the Cr.P.C.
(Chandra Shekhar Jha, J)
Archana/Veena/-
U T
1 issue framed by the court
Whether petitioner should be released on bail in a case involving alleged penetrative sexual assault.
4 provisions across 3 enactments
Ram Kumar Sharma @ Ram Kumar
State of Bihar
Suman Devi
Chandra Shekhar Jha
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
