BAIL APPLN. 1917/2026 Page 1 of 3 pages $~61 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 15.05.2026 + BAIL APPLN. 1917/2026 & CRL.M.A. 15534/2026 SOJAUDDIN QUAISAR .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Medhavi Tyagi, Advocate versus STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI) & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Hemant Mehla, APP for State with SI Preeti CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA J U D G M E N T (ORAL) 1. The accused/applicant seeks regular bail in case FIR No. 284/2023 of PS Vasant Kunj for offence under Section 376/506 IPC and Section 6 of POCSO Act. 2. Broadly speaking, allegation against the accused/applicant is that being stepfather of the 11 year old girl child, he raped her repeatedly. It is also alleged that the accused/applicant threatened the victim not to disclose about the incident before anyone. 3. Learned counsel for accused/applicant submits that he is in jail since May, 2023 and has been falsely implicated. It is contended that the age of GIRISH KATHPALIA Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45569af3962c6fb4 835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15570996b40f80cbd 2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.05.15 05:30:50 +05'30' Digitally Signed By:RAHUL YADAV Signing Date:15.05.2026 17:41:29 Signature Not Verified BAIL APPLN. 1917/2026 Page 2 of 3 pages the victim was much more than 11 year at the time of the alleged incident. Learned counsel for accused/applicant submits that there are contradictions in the testimony of the victim and her mother. Learned counsel for accused/applicant also contends that the prosecution has deliberately concealed the passport of the accused/applicant, which was issued by Bangladesh government, though the victim was born and brought up in UP. 4. Learned APP for State assisted by IO/SI Preeti opposes the bail application largely on the ground of gravity of offence and the punishment that can be the consequence if the accused/applicant gets convicted. 5. A strong emphasis has been laid by learned counsel for accused/applicant on the ground that age of the victim has not been properly proved. But it is admitted case that it is the accused/applicant only, who had submitted his own affidavit before the school authorities testifying the date of birth of the victim and taking that date, the victim was aged 11 years at the time of the alleged incident. 6. Further, on being called upon to disclose as to what according to the accused/applicant was age of the victim at the time of the alleged incident, learned counsel for accused/applicant expresses ignorance. 7. More significantly, the issue of consent of the victim is not even feebly raised. So, whether the victim at the time of the alleged incident was minor or major in age, would not make difference to such an extent that the accused/applicant would gain any advantage in the present proceedings. GIRISH KATHPALIA Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45569a f3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15570996 b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.05.15 05:30:30 +05'30' Digitally Signed By:RAHUL YADAV Signing Date:15.05.2026 17:41:29 Signature Not Verified BAIL APPLN. 1917/2026 Page 3 of 3 pages 8. Coming to the alleged contradictions in the testimony of the victim and her mother, it is trite that at this stage, the Court shall not meticulously examine the evidence brought on record. Suffice it to record that the victim as well as her mother in her testimony has supported the prosecution case. 9. At this stage, learned counsel for accused/applicant also contends that according to prosecution case, mother of the victim consented for internal examination of the victim but the victim refused to undergo the same. This, according to learned counsel is a ground to grant bail. I am not convinced with this argument. The bodily integrity of a girl child has to be respected and if she does not wish to undergo internal examination, the State has no business to add insult to her injury by compelling her to agree for such examination. 10. Considering the above circumstances, I do not find it a fit case at this stage to release the accused/applicant on bail. The bail application and the accompanying application are dismissed. Copy of this order be sent to the concerned Jail Superintendent for being conveyed to the accused/applicant immediately. GIRISH KATHPALIA (JUDGE) MAY 15, 2026/as GIRISH KATHPALIA Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec4556 9af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d155709 96b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.05.15 05:29:59 +05'30' By:RAHUL YADAV Signing Date:15.05.2026 17:41:29