1 15.aba.721.2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR CRIMINAL APPLICATION (ABA) NO.721 OF 2026 Sanket Maroti Khirodkar ..vs.. State of Maharashtra and anr. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shri A.V. Karnavat, Advocate for the applicant. Shri H.R. Dhumale, APP for the non-applicant/State. Ms Pragya Jaiswal, Advocate for non-applicant no.2 (appointed). CORAM: M.M. NERLIKAR, J. DATE : 11.09.2026. Heard. 2. Apprehending his arrest in connection with Crime No.536 of 2026 registered with Civil Line Police Station, Akola for the offences punishable under Sections 11(4) of the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and Sections 74, 78(2), 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the applicant prayed for pre-arrest protection. 3. Learned Counsel for the applicant submits that this Court vide order dated 12.08.2026 has already protected the applicant by granting him interim protection. He further submits that, the victim is 17 years of age whereas the applicant is 18 years of age. He submitted that it is the victim, who is trying to contact the applicant and not vice versa as the victim is in love with the applicant, and therefore, she is insisting the applicant to keep love relationship with her. Therefore, considering the age of the victim and age of the applicant 2026:BHC-NAG:12110 2 15.aba.721.2026 and since he is a student, the applicant prayed to be protected. 4. On the other hand, learned APP and the learned appointed Counsel appearing for non-applicant no. 2/victim vehemently opposed the application by inviting my attention to statement of the victim recorded under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, wherein it is stated by the victim that in spite of her denial to talk to him, he kept harassing her by calling and contacting her repeatedly and when she blocked his number he called her from different numbers. They especially invited my attention to part of the statement, where it is stated that on 19.07.2026 the applicant has called the victim 273 times, and therefore, considering the conduct of the applicant and harassment of the victim to such a degree, the application is prayed to be rejected. 5. I have considered the rival submissions and perused the record. It appears from the FIR as well as the statement of the statement of the victim that the applicant is constantly pursuing the victim. Though the applicant has tried to point out that it is the victim who is pursuing him, however, perusal of the statement recorded under Section 183 of the BNSS goes to show that on 19.07.2026, the applicant had made 273 calls to the victim, however at present there are no details to that regard as the investigation is in progress. 6. Be that as it may, considering the fact that the applicant is 18 years of age and is a student, I am of the considered opinion that one chance needs to be given to 3 15.aba.721.2026 the applicant to change his behaviour. Considering this fact, I am inclined to confirm the order dated 12.08.2026 on same terms and conditions with an additional conditions. Hence the following order : (a) The Application is allowed and disposed of. (b) The order dated 12.08.2026 is hereby confirmed on the same terms and conditions as incorporated in the said order. (c) The applicant shall not contact the victim in any way, mode or manner. (d) The applicant shall not enter into the vicinity where the victim is residing. (e) Pending application(s), if any, stand disposed of accordingly. (f) The observations of this Court are prima facie in nature and are only limited to this application. The Trial Court shall not be influenced by the aforesaid observations. 7. Fees of the appointed Counsel be quantified as per rules. (M.M. NERLIKAR , J. ) Trupti Signed by: Trupti D. Agrawal Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 11/09/2026 18:15:51