IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr.MPM No. 288 of 2026 Date of Decision: 23.4.2026 _____________________________________________________________________ Rakesh Kumar ……...Petitioner Versus State of Himachal Pradesh …....Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Sharma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? For the Petitioner: Mr. Varun Thakur, Advocate. For the Respondent: Mr. Rajan Kahol & Mr. Vishal Panwar, Additional Advocates General and Mr. Ravi Chauhan & Mr. Anish Banshtu, Deputy Advocates General. ___________________________________________________________________________ Sandeep Sharma, J. (Oral) Having taken note of the fact that bail petitioner is accused of commission of heinous crime punishable under Sections 64(2), 64 (2) (f) & (m), Sections 351 (2) of BNSS 2023 and Section 6 of POCSO Act 2012, coupled with the fact that opinion rendered by doctors attending upon the petitioner clearly reveals that diseases suffered by the petitioner can be managed in jail, this court is not persuaded to accept his prayer for grant of bail. 2. Consequently, in view of the above, present petition is dismissed, but having taken note of the advance age of the petitioner- accused coupled with the diseases he is suffering from, liberty is reserved 2 to petitioner to approach this court again for grant of bail after recording of the statement of victim-prosecutrix, which is scheduled to be recorded on 20.5.2026. April 23, 2026 (Sandeep Sharma), (manjit) Judge