1/2 9 IA 2811-26.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 2811 OF 2026 IN CRIMINAL APPEAL ST NO. 16046 of 2026 Pratap Manojkumar Sahu .. Applicant Versus State of Maharashtra and anr .. Respondents … Mr. Shubhankar Avhad i/b Pranav Borgave for the applicant. Ms.Sangeeta D. Shinde, APP for the State. CORAM : BHARATI DANGRE & ASHISH S. CHAVAN, JJ DATED : 3rd SEPTEMBER, 2026 P.C:- 1 Application seek condonation of delay of 986 days in filing the Appeal, being aggrieved by the impugned judgment passed in POCSO Special Case No. 395/2016. 2 We have heard learned counsel for the applicant and perused the application. Under the impugned judgment, the applicant stand convicted for committing offences punishable u/s.4, 6 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for short ‘POCSO Act’) and also under sections 363, 376(2)(i) of the IPC and is sentenced to suffer Imprisonment for Life. The application proceed to state that the applicant was in jail for a period of nine years and he belong to the State of Tilak MANALI PRASANNA TILAK Digitally signed by MANALI PRASANNA TILAK Date: 2026.09.07 11:56:10 +0530 2/2 9 IA 2811-26.doc Orissa and had come to Maharashtra as a labour in construction industry, and therefore, had no acquaintances in the State, so as to enable him to take necessary steps, challenging the conviction imposed upon him. Apart from this, he was lodged in Kalamba Jail, Kolhapur and with appropriate legal advice, he sought certified copies, and was able to establish contact with an advocate who thereafter filed the Appeal. 3 Being satisfied with the bonafides of the justification offered, we deem it appropriate to condone the delay. Interim Application is made absolute in terms of its prayer clause. APPEAL ST No.16046/2026 & IA 2812/2026 4 We deem it appropriate to issue notice of the Criminal Appeal and Interim Application for suspension of sentence to respondent no.2, which shall be served through D.N. Nagar police station. The notice shall indicate the returnable date to be 30/9/2026 and it shall also indicate that the respondent no.2 is at liberty to engage her own counsel or Advocate, of if she is unable to do so, she will be provided the counsel from the legal services authority. Let the learned APP ensure that the notice is served upon respondent no.2. (ASHISH S. CHAVAN, J) (BHARATI DANGRE, J.) Tilak