2026:JHHC:5758 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No.720 of 2026 ------ Rajendra Gope @ Raj, aged about 22 years, S/o Subhash Chandra Gope, Resident of Vill- Angardiha, Kumardungi, P.O. & P.S.- Kumardungi, Dist- West Singhbhum (Jharkhand). … … Petitioner(s) Versus The State of Jharkhand. … … Opposite Party(s) ------ CORAM : SRI ANANDA SEN, J. ------ For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Anjani Kumar, Advocate For the State : Mr. Ajay Kr. Pathak, APP ----- 02/ 26th February, 2026 at 10:30 AM 1. This bail application has been filed under Sections 483 and 484 of the B.N.S.S., 2023 wherein, prayer has been made for grant of bail as the petitioner is in custody for allegedly committing offences punishable under Sections 70(2) of the B.N.S., 2023 and under Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act in connection with Kumardungi P.S. Case No. 24 of 2025 corresponding to Spl. POCSO Case No. 36 of 2025 pending in the Court of Additional Sessions Judge-II-cum-Special Judge, POCSO Act, west Singhbhum at Chaibasa. 2. Heard the parties. 3. The Registrar Judicial is directed to produce the statement of the victim recorded in the POCSO case and place the same before this Court at 1:00 PM. Later on at 1:00 PM 4. It is alleged that victim has been gang-raped by this petitioner and other co-accused persons. 5. The learned APP opposes the prayer for grant of bail of this petitioner. 6. I have gone through statement of the victim recorded under Section 183 BNS as P.W.1. In paragraph 3 of the statement as P.W.1, she has identified the petitioner and other accused persons who have committed rape upon her. In paragraph 4, it is clearly mentioned that this petitioner had forcibly taken the girl to a secluded place where the other co-accused persons were present. 6. I am not passing any comments on the deposition so that it may not prejudice the trial court. 7. Considering the statement of the victim girl who is 13 years of 2026:JHHC:5758 age, I am not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, the prayer for bail of the petitioner is hereby, rejected. 8. The photocopy of the statement of the victim girl recorded under Section 183 BNSS which has been produced before this Court by the Registry be sealed and tagged with this record. (ANANDA SEN, J.) 26.02.2026 Amar/-