1 CGHC010358182026 2026:CGHC:43183 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRC No. 8537 of 2026 Vikas Sahu S/o Jalesh Sahu Aged About 20 Years R/o Vill- Khaprikala P.S. Chilphi Dist- Mungeli (C.G.) ... Applicant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Though Police Station Chilphi Dist- Mungeli (C.G.) ….Non-Applicant For Applicant : Shri Anchal Kumar Matre, Advocate. For Non-Applicant/State : Ms. Ritika Verma, Panel Lawyer (HON’BLE SHRI JUSTICE RAKESH MOHAN PANDEY) Order on Board 06/10/2026 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.15/2026, registered at Police Station Chilphi, Dist. Mungeli (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 137(2), 87, 64(2)(m) of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023 (for short, the BNS) and under Sections 4, 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (hereinafter referred to as the POCSO Act, 2012). 2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that a written complaint was lodged by the victim and his father making allegations that on the night of 05.02.2026 around 11:00 pm, the prosecutrix had gone to somewhere Digitally signed by ALLENA ANJANI KUMAR Date: 2026.10.07 10:18:50 +0530 2 without informing anyone at home and subsequently a missing report was registered and thereafter, on 19.05.2026, the victim was recovered from the possession of the present applicant and upon such recovery, the victim alleged that the applicant took her away to Allahabad and performed marriage with her and committed sexual intercourse. On such complaint, the police registered the offences against the present applicant, as stated above. 3. Learned Counsel for the applicant would submit that the applicant has falsely been implicated in the case; the victim has already been examined but she has not supported the case of the prosecution. He would contend that the victim in her examination-in-chief has categorically stated that she accompanied the applicant to Ajamgarh where they stayed for 4 months, but no alleged incident had taken place. He would submit that the victim denied the suggestions put forth by the Public Prosecutor. It is also argued that the applicant is in jail since 20.05.2026; he has no criminal antecedents and trial may take some time for its conclusion. Therefore, he would pray for grant of regular bail to the applicant. 4. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the State would oppose the submissions made by the learned counsel for the applicant. She would submit that on the date of incident, the age of the victim is 16 years 1 month and there are serious allegations of sexual harassment against the present applicant, therefore, the instant bail application deserves to be rejected. 5. Victim along with her father appeared in person and raised objection in granting bail to the applicant 6. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the 3 case diary. 7. Though the age of the victim on the date of incident was 16 years 1 month, but in her statement recorded under Section 183 of BNS she has not supported the case of defence, but in her Court statement recorded on 27.08.2026 she specifically stated that she was never sexually abused by the present applicant while they stayed in Ajamgarh for 4 months. Even she denied the suggestions put forth by the Public Prosecutor. 8. Having considered the above facts and further considering the detention period of the applicant and the trial is likely to take some considerable time, I am inclined to grant bail bail to the applicant. Accordingly, the bail application is allowed. 9. It is directed that the applicant shall be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in sum of Rs.50,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:- (i) he 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) he shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial, & (iii) he shall appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) JUDGE Anjani