The Thane Sessions court has granted bail to a 19 year old man who was arrested by the Kapurbawadi police station in December 2024, for allegedly raping a 14 year old girl. The accused was arrested under the stringent charges of Prevention of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Bail was granted on the PR bond of Rs 30,000.
As per the prosecution, a complaint was filed by the victim’s mother against the accused stating that her daughter had gone missing since November 2024 , thus she had filed a kidnapping case against the accused. The case reads that the accused had allegedly tried to take the disadvantage of the victim’s minor age and had had forcibly established physical relations with her. The prosecution had claimed that if the accused was released on bail, there was a chance of he escaping his hometown in Bihar.
It was however opposed by the accused stating that he was innocent and that the victim and he were having a a love affair and that nothing incriminating was recovered from him and investigation is practically complete. He has also contended that he is a person of well repute and good standing in
the society and that offence allegedly committed by him is not punishable with death or life imprisonment and that he does not have criminal antecedents.
The court while granting bail to the accused held, that prima facie the crime allegedly committed by the accused is serious in nature. “Accused has apparently exploited a minor 14 years old girl. Though he has contended that there was love affair between them, the say of the victim states otherwise as it reflects from her reply that accused had raped her…..the police have already filed a charge sheet in the case and even the investigation has been completed. In any event the accused is a young person and does not have any other criminal antecedents. Also from the FIR, prima facie it appears that victim had suo motu left the house and therefore weighing the pros and cons at this stage it is deemed fit to impose strict conditions (and grant him bail). “
The court further held that the court is aware of the fact that owing to the pendency of large number of old cases, part heard matters and other factors, the trial of this case may take its own course and duration and during that time it would not be practically fruitful to detain the accused behind bars.
