IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr.MP(M) No.754 of 2026 Date of Decision: 22.05.2026 _____________________________________________________________________ Vipan Kumar ……...Petitioner Versus State of Himachal Pradesh …....Respondents Coram Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Sharma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? For the Petitioner: Mr. Arun Raj and Mr. Atul Kumar, Advocates. For the Respondent: Mr. Rajan Kahol & Mr. Vishal Panwar, Additional Advocates General, with Mr. Ravi Chauhan and Mr. Anish Banshtu, Deputy Advocates General, for State. SI Ajmer Singh, IO, WPS Hamirpur, present along with record. ___________________________________________________________________________ Sandeep Sharma, J. (Oral) Pursuant to order dated 05.05.2026, respondent-State has filed status report and SI Ajmer Singh, IO, WPS Hamirpur, has come present along with record. 2. Close scrutiny of status report/record reveals that prosecution evidence has been already completed and now the matter is fixed for recording the statements of defence witnesses on 18.06.2026. Since trial is nearing completion, coupled with the fact that petitioner is accused of heinous crime, punishable under Sections 74, 65, 333, 351(2) of BNS and Sections 4, 6 and 8 of the POCSO Act, this Court is not inclined to consider the prayer made on behalf of the petitioner for grant of bail at this stage. 2 3. Faced with aforesaid situation, learned counsel representing the petitioner seeks permission to withdraw the present petition, with liberty to file afresh, if required and desired. Ordered accordingly. 4. Having taken note of the fact that bail petitioner is behind bars for almost one and a half years, coupled with the fact that all prosecution witnesses stand examined, this Court hopes and trusts that the Court below would make all out efforts to conclude the trial expeditiously, preferably, on or before 15.07.2026, failing which this Court shall be constrained to consider prayer made by the petitioner for bail. Learned Additional Advocate General undertakes to render proper assistance on behalf of the prosecution, enabling the Court below to conclude the trial in terms of instant order passed by this Court. Needless to say, this Court on judicial as well as administrative sides, has been repeatedly advising the Courts below to conclude the trial of under trials on top most priority so that their freedom is not curtailed for an indefinite period. Registry is directed to apprise the Court below with regard to passing of the instant order. May 22, 2026 (Sandeep Sharma), Rajeev Raturi Judge