Ilyas @ Hafiz v. The State (Govt Of NCT Of Delhi) And ANR

$~4 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + BAIL APPLN. 688/2026 & CRL.M.A. 5302/2026 & CRL.M.A. 5303/2026 ILYAS @ HAFIZ .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Prashant Singhal, Mr. Md.

Zeeshan, Ms. Dolly and Ms. Sheetal, Advocates.

versus THE STATE (GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI) AND ANR .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Sunil Kumar Gautam, APP for the State with SI Anuradha.

Ms. Dipika Saxena, Advocate for R-2/complainant.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN

O R D E R

% 27.04.2026 1.

Applicant seeks regular bail in case arising out of FIR No.0356/2021 dated 31.05.2021, registered at P.S. Harsh Vihar, for commission of offences under Section 376 IPC and Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), 2012.

2.

Learned APP for the State and learned counsel for the complainant, who has joined the proceedings through video-conferencing, submit that the trial is virtually over and as on the next date of hearing i.e. 01.06.2026, I.O. is to be examined.

3.

The Court is conscious of the fact that the incarceration period of applicant is already quite high i.e. of four years and ten months. BAIL APPLN. 688/2026 1 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/04/2026 at 11:56:20

4.

However, since the case pertains to sexual assault upon a girl of ten years of age, and given the fact that the trial is about to be over, it will not be appropriate for this Court to make any observation with respect to the merits of the case.

5.

In view of the above, the present bail application is disposed of with request to learned Trial Court to dispose of the abovesaid case, as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of three months from the date it takes up the matter.

6.

It is, however, clarified that if the case does not get disposed of within the abovesaid time-frame, the applicant would be at liberty to file application afresh before this Court.

MANOJ JAIN, J APRIL 27, 2026/ss/sa BAIL APPLN. 688/2026 2 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/04/2026 at 11:56:20