D/L16 17.02.2026 Bpg. Allowed C.R.M. (R) 20 of 2026 In Re: An application for Bail under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 filed in connection with Khardah Police Station Case No.25 of 2025 dated 17.01.2025 under Section 8 of POCSO Act; Sudarshan Chatterjee Versus The State of West Bengal & Anr. Mr. Debasis Kar Mr. Arka Tilak Bhadra Ms. Suhana Parveen Ms. Paramita Mukherjee. …for the petitioner. Mr. Prasun Kr. Datta Ms. Rita Datta. …for the State. Ms. Tannistha Bandyopadhyay. …for the de facto complainant. Learned advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was arrested on 25th February, 2025 and since then the petitioner is in custody. Charge-sheet has already been submitted and charges have already been framed. Learned advocate for the de facto complainant as well as the State opposes the prayer for bail and draws the attention of the Court to the statement of the victim under Section 183 of the BNSS. Learned advocates have also relied upon the statement of other witnesses. I have taken into account the same, at this stage, I do not intend to comment whether an offence has been made out but prima facie I find that the prosecution has charged the petitioner 2 under Section 8 of the POCSO Act. Having considered the same and that the petitioner is in custody for more than 11 ½ months, I am of the view that further detention of the petitioner may not be warranted in the facts and circumstances of the present case. Accordingly, the prayer for bail of the petitioner is allowed. The petitioner, namely, Sudarshan Chatterjee shall be released on bail upon furnishing bond of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) with two sureties of Rs.10,000/- each, one of whom must be local to the satisfaction of the learned Judge, Special Court, under POCSO Act, Barrackpore, North 24 Parganas. If on bail, the petitioner shall be physically present on each and every date fixed before the learned trial court and would co-operate in the progress of the trial of the case. Petitioner shall not leave the district of North 24 Parganas without the prior permission of the learned special court. Accordingly, CRM(R) 20 of 2026 is allowed. The investigating officer of the case is present. His further appearance before this Court is dispensed with. All parties shall act on the server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court. Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance of all requisite formalities. (Tirthankar Ghosh, J.) 3