HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 15354 of 2026 Court No. - 67 HON'BLE JITENDRA KUMAR SINHA, J. 1. Heard Miss Shabista Parveen, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri Shiv Dutt Shukla, learned A.G.A. for the State and Miss. Utkarshni Singh, learned counsel for High Court Legal Services Committee. 2. The instant bail application has been filed with a prayer to release the applicant on bail in Case Crime No. 53 of 2026, under Sections 137(2), 87, 65(2), 62 of BNS and Section 5M/6, 18 of POCSO Act, Police Station Ramnagar District Varanasi during the pendency of the trial. 3. At the very outset, learned AGA submits that notice has been served on the first informant. 4. It is contended by the learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case and there are material contradictions in the statement of the victim recorded under Sections 180 and 183 BNSS and the victim in her statements has not stated anything regarding her disrobment. It is further submitted that the victim has already been examined before the trial court, therefore, there is no chance of tampering of evidence. It is also submitted that the applicant has been languishing in jail since 7.3.2026 and he is having no criminal history. It is lastly submitted that in case the applicant is granted bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail and would cooperate in the trial proceedings. 5. Per contra, learned A.G.A. and learned counsel for High Court Legal Versus Counsel for Applicant(s) : Chaman Aara, Shabista Parveen Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A., Utkarshni Singh Ashfaq @ Muse .....Applicant(s) State Of U.P. And 3 Others .....Opposite Party(s) Services Committee have vehemently opposed the prayer for bail, however, it is submitted that the the victim is a minor girl aged about 7 years and the victim in her statement recorded under Section 183 BNSS has stated that the applicant disrobed her. 6. As per the allegation in the FIR, the applicant is said to have sexually harassed the victim and outraged her modesty aged about 07 years, however, there appears to material contradictions in the statement of the victim recorded under Sections 180 and 183 BNSS. The victim has already been examined before the trial court, therefore, there is no chance of tampering of evidence. The applicant has been languishing in jail since 7.3.2026 and he is having no criminal history. 7. Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case, submissions of learned counsel for the parties and keeping in view the nature of offence, evidence, complicity of the accused and taking into account overcrowded jails and heavy pendency of criminal cases before the trial courts as well as considering the mandate of the judgement of the Apex Court in the case of Kapil Wadhawan vs Central Bureau of Investigation reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 3038 as well as guideline of this Court in the case of Maya Tiwari Vs. State of U.P. reported in 2024 SCC Online All 6765 regarding grant of bail and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, I am of the opinion that the applicant is entitled to be enlarged on bail. 8. Accordingly, the present application is ALLOWED. 9. Let the applicant- Ashfaq @ Muse involved in the aforementioned crime be released on bail, on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount, to the satisfaction of the court concerned, with the 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 facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence. (ii) The applicant shall cooperate in the trial/investigation sincerely BAIL No. 15354 of 2026 2 without seeking any adjournment. (iii) The applicant shall not indulge in any criminal activity or commission of any crime after being released on bail. (iv) The applicant shall attend in accordance with the conditions of the bond executed by him. 10. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail. 11. Identity, status and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted. Verification of mobile number and Aadhaar card of the applicant as well as sureties should be verified by the court concerned. 12. It is further directed that the trial court shall send the release order to the concerned jail through Bail Order Management System (BOMS) to ensure early release of the applicant. 13. Office is directed to send a copy of this order to the applicant through concerned Jail Superintendent via e-mail or e-prison portal within 24 hours in compliance of the order of the Apex Court in the case of Policy Strategy for Grant of Bail, In Re: Suo Motu Writ Petition (Crl.) No.4 of 2021 decided on 31.01.2023 reported in (2024) 10 SCC 685. October 1, 2026 Abhishek BAIL No. 15354 of 2026 3 (Jitendra Kumar Sinha,J.) Digitally signed by :- ABHISHEK AGRAHARI High Court of Judicature at Allahabad