1 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 10344 of 2025 Manish Bhatt S/o Late Fagulal Bhat Aged About 19 Years R/o Kosampali P.S. Kotraroad, District Raigarh (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Kotraroad, Raigarh, District Raigarh (C.G.) ... Respondent (The Cause-title is taken from CIS) For Applicant : Mr. Sanjay Agrawal, Adv. For Respondent/State : Ms. Laxmeen Kashyap, P.L. Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal Order On Board 12/01/2026 1. The victim along with her mother appeared through virtual mode from concerned DLSA and recorded ‘objection’ in granting bail to the applicant. 2. The applicant has preferred this 1st bail application under Section 483 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Act 2023 for grant of regular bail as he is arrested in connection with crime No. 434/2025, registered at Police Station – Kotraroad, District- Raigarh (C.G.) for offence SHUBHAM SINGH RAGHUVANSHI Digitally signed by SHUBHAM SINGH RAGHUVANSHI Date: 2026.01.13 11:23:38 +0530 2 punishable under Section 376 of IPC and Sections 4 & 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012. 3. As per prosecution story, the allegation against the applicant is that he committed sexual intercourse with the victim who was aged below 18 years on the pretext of marriage. Based on above, offence has been registered against the applicant and he was arrested on 30.10.2025. 4. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the crime in question. There was a love affair between the applicant and the victim and she was a consenting party. There was a delay of around three years in lodging the FIR. He further submits that age of the victim has not been proved. At the time of alleged incident, the applicant was also minor. He is in jail since 30.10.2025 and the trial is likely to take time to be finalized, therefore, it is prayed that the applicant may be enlarged on bail. 5. Per contra, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the State opposes the bail application and submits that at the time of incident, the victim was minor, therefore, looking to the nature of offence, the applicant may not be released on bail. 6. I have heard learned Counsel appearing for the parties and perused the material available on record. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, evidence collected by the prosecution against the applicant and the fact that as of now the victim has not been examined, at this stage, without commenting on merits of the case, I am not inclined to release the applicant on bail. 8. Accordingly, the bail application is Rejected. Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge Shubham