HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 31074 of 2026 Court No. - 67 HON'BLE JITENDRA KUMAR SINHA, J. 1. Heard Sri Jalaj Kumar Tripathi, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri B.P. Maurya, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record. 2. The instant bail application has been filed with a prayer to release the applicant on bail in Case Crime No. 398 of 2026, under Sections 69, 115(2), 352, 351(3) of BNS and Section 5(L)/6 of POCSO Act and Section 3/4 of D.P. Act, Police Station Bhojipura, District Bareilly, during the pendency of the trial. 3. At the very outset, learned AGA submits that notice has been served on the first informant. 4. It is contended by the learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case and on perusal of the contents of the FIR as well as the statement of the victim recorded under Sections 180 and 183 BNSS, it appears that the applicant and the victim were in consensual relationship and their marriage has been fixed and engagement ceremony has been performed, however, due to some dispute regarding demand of dowry, their marriage could not be performed and the marriage of the applicant has been fixed with some other girl. It is further submitted that the age of the victim has been found to be 17 years and 11 months as per her certificate of High School and the victim Versus Counsel for Applicant(s) : Jalaj Kumar Tripathi Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A. Surjeet .....Applicant(s) State Of U.P. And 3 Others .....Opposite Party(s) has refused to undergo medico-legal examination and she has stated before the doctor that no sexual assault was committed on her and only sexual harassment was done to her. It is also submitted that the applicant has been languishing in jail since 7.7.2026 and he is having no criminal history. It is lastly submitted that in case the applicant is granted bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail and would cooperate in the trial proceedings. 5. Per contra, learned A.G.A. has vehemently opposed the prayer for bail, however, it is submitted that the the victim is a minor girl aged about 17 years and 11 months as per her certificate of High School and the victim in her statement recorded under Section 183 BNSS has stated that the applicant established physical relationship on the false promise of marriage. 6. As per the allegation in the FIR, the applicant is said to have established physical relationship on the false promise of marriage, however, it is submitted that on perusal of the contents of the FIR as well as the statement of the victim recorded under Sections 180 and 183 BNSS, it appears that the applicant and the victim were in consensual relationship and their marriage has been fixed and due to some dispute regarding demand of dowry, their marriage could not be performed and the marriage of the applicant has been fixed with some other girl. The age of the victim has been found to be 17 years and 11 months as per her certificate of High School and the victim has refused to undergo medico-legal examination and she has stated before the doctor that no sexual assault was committed on her and only sexual harassment was done to her. The applicant has been languishing in jail since 7.7.2026 and he is having no criminal history. 7. Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case, submissions of learned counsel for the parties and keeping in view the nature of offence, evidence, complicity of the accused and taking into account overcrowded jails and heavy pendency of criminal cases before the trial courts as well as considering the mandate of the judgement of the Apex Court in the case of Kapil BAIL No. 31074 of 2026 2 Wadhawan vs Central Bureau of Investigation reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 3038 as well as guideline of this Court in the case of Maya Tiwari Vs. State of U.P. reported in 2024 SCC Online All 6765 regarding grant of bail and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, I am of the opinion that the applicant is entitled to be enlarged on bail. 8. Accordingly, the present application is ALLOWED. 9. Let the applicant- Surjeet involved in the aforementioned crime be released on bail, on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount, to the satisfaction of the court concerned, with the following conditions:- (i) The applicant 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 facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence. (ii) The applicant shall cooperate in the trial/investigation sincerely without seeking any adjournment. (iii) The applicant shall not indulge in any criminal activity or commission of any crime after being released on bail. (iv) The applicant shall attend in accordance with the conditions of the bond executed by him. 10. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail. 11. Identity, status and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted. Verification of mobile number and Aadhaar card of the applicant as well as sureties should be verified by the court concerned. 12. It is further directed that the trial court shall send the release order to the concerned jail through Bail Order Management System BAIL No. 31074 of 2026 3 (BOMS) to ensure early release of the applicant. 13. Office is directed to send a copy of this order to the applicant through concerned Jail Superintendent via e-mail or e-prison portal within 24 hours in compliance of the order of the Apex Court in the case of Policy Strategy for Grant of Bail, In Re: Suo Motu Writ Petition (Crl.) No.4 of 2021 decided on 31.01.2023 reported in (2024) 10 SCC 685. September 18, 2026 Abhishek BAIL No. 31074 of 2026 4 (Jitendra Kumar Sinha,J.) Digitally signed by :- ABHISHEK AGRAHARI High Court of Judicature at Allahabad