Ravi Ranjan @ Ravi Ranjan Kumar v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.37853 of 2023 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-174 Year-2023 Thana- HILSA District- Nalanda ====================================================== Ravi Ranjan @ Ravi Ranjan Kumar Son Of Rajeshwar Prasad @ Rageshvar Prasad Village- Jamuara (Mirjapur, Chhakanbigha) Ps- Chiksaura DistNalanda ... ... Petitioner

Versus

The State of Bihar ... ... Opposite Party ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner :

Mr. Anil Kumar Singh, Advocate For the Opposite Party :

Mr. Rajendra Prasad Nat, A.P.P.

====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KHATIM REZA ORAL ORDER 07-07-2023 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned A.P.P. for the State.

2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with Hilsa P.S. Case No. 174 of 2023 dated 20.03.2023, instituted for the offences punishable under Sections 354(B), 504 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 8/12 of the POCSO Act and Section 66(E) of the I.T. Act.

3. The prosecution case, in short, is that informant's daughter (victim) studies in Guddu Coaching Center. The petitioner made phone calls on her mobile phone and desired to talk to the victim and on refusal he started sending indescent picture of the victim.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent, aged about 21 years, student of B.C.A. (1st year) and he has falsely been implicated in this case. It is

Patna High Court CR. MISC. No.37853 of 2023(2) dt.07-07-2023 2/2 submitted that as per the material available on record, Matriculation certificate of the victim-girl shows that the date of birth is 18.05.2005, as the victim-girl is aged about 18 years and the victim-girl is major, hence, Section 08 of the POCSO Act has not been attributed against the petitioner. It is further submitted that on several occasion the victim-girl called the petitioner from her mobile phone and sent Whatsapp messages regularly to the petitioner. Lastly, it has been submitted that the petitioner is in custody since 20.03.2023, has no criminal antecedents and charge-sheet has been submitted in the case.

5. Learned A.P.P. has opposed the prayer for bail of the petitioner.

6. Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case and submissions of learned counsel for the parties, let the petitioner be released on bail upon furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 10,000/- (ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned 7th Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, POCSO, Nalanda in Hilsa P.S. Case No. 174 of 2023.

(Khatim Reza, J) shanu/- U T