1 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 7174 of 2025 1 - Prahalad Raut S/o Suraj Raut Aged About 20 Years R/o Khamtarai, P.S. Khamtarai, Raipur, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh ... Applicant(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through S.H.O., Police Station Purur, District : Balod, Chhattisgarh ... Non-applicant(s) For Applicant(s) : Mr. Shikhar Bakhtiyar, Advocate. For Non-applicant(s) : Mr. Pranjal Shukla, Panel Lawyer. Hon’ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J. Order on Board 23/09//2025 1. Pursuant to the order dated 09.09.2025, the father of the victim appeared through virtual mode from DLSA, Balod and raised objection in granting bail to the applicant, his objection is taken on record. 2. This is first bail application before this Court filed by the applicant for grant of regular bail. The applicant has been arrested on 19.05.2025 in connection with Crime No. 45/2025 registered at Police Station Purur, District Balod (C.G.) for the offence under Sections 137(2), 8, 64(2) of BNS & Section 5(l), 6 of POCSO Act, 2012. 3. The case of the prosecution is that on 05.05.2025, the father of the victim lodged a missing report that his minor daughter is missing since 20.04.2025 ALOK SHARMA Digitally signed by ALOK SHARMA Date: 2025.09.23 20:00:26 +0530 2 and her whereabouts could not be traced out. The police has registered the offence under Section 137(2) of BNS, 2023 and started investigation. During the investigation the victim was recovered on 18.05.2025 from the possession of the applicant. After recording her statement the other offence of Section 87, 64(2)(m) of BNS and 5(l) and 6 of POCSO Act have been added. The applicant has been arrested on 19.05.2025 and charge-sheet has been filed. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the victim being major girl having love affair with the applicant and she herself on her own will eloped with him without raising any objection. There is no legally admissible evidence with respect to her age in the charge-sheet. He would further submits that as per her 183 BNSS statement the cousin brother of the victim had seen both of them together yet uptil 05.05.2025 no report has been lodged. It is only under the pressure of her parents she made statement against the applicant. The applicant is in jail since 19.05.2025, and final adjudication of the case will take its own time, therefore, he may be enlarged on bail. 5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State opposes the bail application. 6. Considering the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, considering the nature of allegation and the material collected during the investigation, further considering the 183 B.N.S.S. statement of the victim and other material available in the charge-sheet. The applicant is in jail since 19.05.2025 and final adjudication of the case will take its own time, I am inclined to release the applicant on bail. 7. Consequently, the bail application filed by the applicant Prahalad Raut for grant of regular bail is hereby allowed. It is directed that the applicant shall be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs. 3 25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court, on following conditions:- (i) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court. (ii) The applicant shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial, and (iii) The applicant shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to them by the said Court till disposal of the trial unless their personal presence is exempted by the trial Court. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Judge Alok