1 CGHC010337352026 2026:CGHC:42774 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8480 of 2026 1 - Ankush Kore S/o Late Shyam Lal Kore, Aged About 22 Years R/o Chhipaya, P.S. Rawanwadi, District Gondiya (M.H.) ... Applicant versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer Police Station Devri District Balod (C.G.) ... Non-applicant For Applicant : Mr. Pushpendra Kumar Patel, Advocate For Non-applicant /State : Ms. Monika Thakur, P.L. Hon’ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board 01/10/2026 1. The applicant has preferred this First Bail Application under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 67/2026, registered at Police 2 Station Devri, District – Balod (C.G.) for offence punishable under Sections 137(2) and 87 64(2)(m) of BNS and Sections 4 and 6 of POCSO Act. 2. As per the case of the prosecution, father of the victim lodged a report on 22/04/2026 stating that his minor daughter had left the house on 21/04/2026 at 02:30 PM without informing anybody and she has been kidnapped by some unknown person. Subsequently, victim was recovered on 27/05/2026 from Nagpur (Maharashtra) wherein she was found in the company of the accused and in her statement recorded under Section 183 of BNSS, the victim has alleged that the applicant sexually assaulted her on several occasions due to which she has also conceived. On the basis of such allegations, the police arrested the present applicant and registered the aforesaid offences against him. 3. Mr. Pushpendra Kumar Patel, learned counsel for the applicant, would argue that on the date of incident, the age of the victim was 17 years and 7 months and there was a love affair between the applicant and the victim and both of them stayed at Nagpur from 22/04/2026 till 27/05/2026 and established physical relations. He would further submit that the investigation has been completed and charge-sheet has already been filed and the applicant is in jail since 27/05/2026, thus, the appellant be released on bail as conclusion of trial is likely to take some time. 4. On the other hand, Ms. Monika Thakur, learned counsel appearing 3 for the non-applicant/State, would oppose the bail application and submit that at the time of the incident, the victim was a minor aged about 17 years and 7 months and therefore, the contention of consent of the victim would be irrelevant as she was a minor. She would lastly submit that victim, in her statement under Section 183 of BNSS, has made serious allegations of sexual assault against the applicant and on 04/06/2026, the victim was medically examined and she was found to be having pregnancy of six weeks, therefore, the applicant is not liable to be released on bail. 5. Victim’s father appeared before this Court through video conferencing from the concerned District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and raised his objection for grant of bail to the applicant. 6. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary as well as the material available on record. 7. Having considered the facts and circumstances of the present case, the nature and gravity of the offence committed by the applicant, further having considered the age of the victim and the allegations of sexual assault levelled by her against the applicant in her statement under Section 183 of BNSS, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the present applicant. 8. Accordingly, this bail application filed by the applicant – Ankush Kore for grant of regular bail, as he has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 67/2026, registered at Police Station Devri, District – Balod (C.G.) for offence punishable under Sections 4 137(2) and 87 64(2)(m) of BNS and Sections 4 and 6 of POCSO Act is hereby rejected. Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) JUDGE Harneet