Darshan Lal v. The State Of NCT Of Delhi And ANR & ORS.
$~4 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + BAIL APPLN. 280/2026 DARSHAN LAL .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. Ram Kumar and Ms. Yasmin Saifi, Advocates versus THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR.
.....Respondents Through:
Mr. Naresh Kumar Chahar, APP for the State with SI Pooja, P.S. Paschim Vihar East
CORAM:
HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA
O R D E R
% 05.05.2026 1.
By way of the present application, the applicant seeks grant of regular bail in case arising out of FIR bearing No. 365/2025, registered at Police Station Paschim Vihar East, Delhi, for the commission of offence punishable under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (hereafter „POCSO Act‟).
Briefly stated, the facts of the present case are that on 19.10.2025, upon receipt of PCR call vide DD No. 81A regarding a missing minor girl "L", SI Chandan reached the premises at 180E, BG-6, Paschim Vihar, where complainant Viren Singh was found. In his statement, he reported that the victim, aged about 17 years, had left the house without intimation and was suspected to have been enticed away by an unknown person. Accordingly, The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
FIR No. 365/25 dated 19.10.2025 under Section 137(2) of BNS was registered at Police Station Paschim Vihar East. 3.
On 20.10.2025, the victim appeared at the police station and her statement under Section 180 of BNSS was recorded, wherein she stated that she had gone out on her own and no untoward incident had occurred. She was medically examined at SGMH, Mangolpuri vide MLC No. 13118/25 dated 20.10.2025; no fresh external injuries were found, UPT was negative, and no history of physical or sexual assault was reported. Thereafter, she was sent to Nirmal Chhaya, Hari Nagar.
4.
The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the applicant argues that the applicant/accused is the paternal uncle (fufa) of the victim and, following the demise of the victim‟s parents, the applicant‟s family has been taking care of her. It is argued that the victim was in contact with a boy, namely „K‟, and upon being restrained from interacting with him, she became upset and, on 19.10.2025, left the house under his influence. The learned counsel further argues that the victim had earlier levelled allegations of rape against the applicant while being influenced by the said boy; however, in support of this contention, screenshots of Instagram chats exchanged between the victim and the said boy from 17.11.2025 to 26.11.2025 have been placed on record.
It is further argued that when the victim appeared before the police, she herself stated that no wrongdoing had occurred, and she reiterated the same during her medical examination. It is contended that, as per the MLC, no fresh injuries were found and no history of physical or sexual assault was reported. Additionally, it is argued that the applicant has been in judicial custody since 21.11.2025 and that the trial is likely to take considerable time to conclude. Accordingly, it is prayed that the applicant be enlarged on The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
regular bail.
5.
The learned APP for the State argues that the allegations against the applicant/accused are serious in nature; however, it is not disputed that the MLC in the present case records no fresh external injuries, a negative UPT result, and no history of physical or sexual assault, as stated by the victim. It is also not disputed that when the victim appeared before the police, she herself stated that nothing wrong had taken place. It is further stated that the matter is presently at the stage of framing of charges. The learned APP additionally argues that the applicant may be required during further investigation and, being the paternal uncle/ fufa of the victim, there exists a likelihood that he may influence her if released on bail. It is thus prayed that in view of the gravity of the offence and the material available on record, the present application be dismissed.
6.
This Court has heard arguments addressed by the learned counsel appearing for the applicant as well as the learned APP State, and has perused the material on record.
7.
Having heard the learned counsel for the applicant and the learned APP for the State, and upon perusal of the material placed on record, this Court notes that the victim, upon appearing before the police, had categorically stated that no untoward incident had taken place and that she had voluntarily left the house. This version is further corroborated by the MLC, wherein no fresh external injuries were found, the UPT was negative, and no history of physical or sexual assault was reported. At this stage, these aspects assume significance, as they prima facie dilute the allegations levelled against the applicant and do not any immediate incriminating material suggestive of sexual assault, at this stage. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
8.
This Court further notes that the applicant has been in judicial custody since 21.11.2025. The matter is presently at the stage of framing of charges, and the trial is yet to commence, which is likely to take considerable time to conclude.
9.
In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, particularly the statement of the victim negating any allegation of sexual assault, the medical evidence on record, and the period of custody already undergone by the applicant, coupled with the fact that the trial is likely to take time to conclude, this Court is inclined to grant regular bail to the applicant herein, on his furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs.10,000/- with one surety of the like amount, subject to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Court/Successor Court/Link Court/Duty Judge concerned on the following terms and conditions:
i) The applicant shall not leave the country without prior permission of the concerned Court and if the applicant has a passport, he shall surrender the same to the concerned trial court. ii) In case of change of residential address/contact details, the applicant shall promptly inform the same to the concerned Court and IO/SHO concerned.
iii) The applicant shall appear regularly before the learned Trial Court, unless exempted.
iv) The applicant shall not communicate with, or come into contact with the complainant or any of the prosecution witnesses, or tamper with the evidence of the case.
10.
Accordingly, the present bail application stands allowed and is disposed of.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
11.
The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J MAY 05, 2026/ns/GJ The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
$~70 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(CRL) 1148/2026 & CRL.M.A. 10945/2026, CRL.M.A. 12208/2026, CRL.M.A. 12667/2026 KARAN GUPTA AND ANOTHER .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. Prashant Mendiratta, Mr. Sanchit Saini, Ms. Sakshi Jain and Ms.
Vaishnavi Saxena, Advocates.
versus NCT OF DELHI AND ANOTHER .....Respondent Through:
Mr. Amol Sinha, ASC for State with Mr. Kshitiz Garg, Mr. Ashvini Kumar, Mr. Chavi Lazarus and Mr.
Nitish Dhawan, Advocates with InspectorRamkesh, PS: EOW.
Mr. Kanhaiya Singhal, Ms. Vani Singhal, Mr. Prasanna, Ajay Kumar, Mr. Sarthak Gupta, Ms. Avantika Shankar, Mr. Naval Goel, Advocates for R-2.
CORAM:
HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA
O R D E R
% 05.05.2026 1.
Subject to the orders of the Hon‟ble Judge In-charge (Criminal Side), list before another Bench on 07.05.2026.
The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J MAY 05, 2026/vc/AP The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
$~37 & 38 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CRL.M.C. 4266/2024 & CRL.M.A. 16219/2024 MALINI SEHGAL & ORS.
.....Petitioners Through:
Mr. K. K. Manan, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Ankush Narang, Mr. Kshitij Kumar, Advocates versus STATE NCT OF DELHI & ANR.
.....Respondents Through:
Mr. Manoj Pant, APP for the State.
Mr. Yudhajeet Sinha, Advocate for R- (38) + CRL.REV.P. 701/2024 & CRL.M.A. 16232/2024 MALINI SEHGAL & ORS.
.....Petitioners Through:
Mr. K. K. Manan, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Ankush Narang, Mr. Kshitij Kumar, Advocates versus STATE NCT OF DELHI & ANR.
.....Respondents Through:
Mr. Manoj Pant, APP for the State.
Mr. Yudhajeet Sinha, Advocate for RCORAM:
HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA
O R D E R
% 05.05.2026 1.
List on 07.05.2026 before another Bench, subject to orders of Hon‟ble The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
Judge-in-Charge (Criminal Side).
The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J MAY 05, 2026/zp/ap The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.