PUNJAB & HARYANA HC GRANTS BAIL TO MAN BOOKED UNDER POCSO ACT ON CHARGES BY WIFE REGARDING INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE WHEN SHE WAS A MINOR

The Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case Dinesh Versus State of Haryana observed and has recently granted a regular bail to a man booked under the POCSO Act after the complainant, the petitioner wife, accused him of penetrative sexual assault in an incident that allegedly took place prior to their marriage, when the petitioner wife was still a minor.

The bench comprising of Justice Vikas Bahl observed that no date of the alleged incident has been mentioned in the FIR and it was registered after the petitioner moved a plea for restitution of conjugal rights, the bench noted that the FIR was registered after much delay.

It was observed that the FIR was registered under Sections 6, 12 and 17 of POCSO Act and Sections 506, 376(2) (N), 323, 328 and 406 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The Court noted that no date of incident has been mentioned in the FIR and the said FIR has been registered after filing of the petition by the petitioner under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Prima facie, it also appears that after much delay, the FIR has been registered.

Further, the Court observed that the affidavit suggests that the complainant married the petitioner without coercion or pressure and also the Aadhaar Card that suggests her to have attained the majority age at the time of her marriage.

The bench after considering the fact that the petitioner is not involved in any other matter and prosecution is to take time and also that the co-accused Yogesh has been granted interim protection. It was stated that this court deemed it fit to extent the relief of regular bail to the petitioner. It observed that since 07.12.2021, the petitioner has been in custody and there are 22 prosecution witnesses and none of them have been examined. Therefore, the trial is likely to take time.

Moreover, the court allowed the instant petition and released the petitioner on regular basis subject to its cancellation if he threatens or influences the witness.

The present petition is allowed by the court, while keeping in view the facts and circumstances and the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his furnishing bail or surety bonds to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court or Duty Magistrate and subject to him not being required in any other case. In the present case, it is made clear, the petitioner threatens or influences any witness, it would be open to the State to move an application for cancellation of the present regular bail granted to the petitioner by the court.

Accordingly, the petition is disposed off in above terms.