Ajay Gautam Wankhede v. State Of Mah. Thr. Pso Anjangaon Surji Dist.Amravati And Another

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR CRIMINAL APPLICATION (BA) NO.1243 OF 2022 Ajay Gautam Wankhede .Vs. State of Maharashtra, through P.S.O. Anjangaon Surji, Dist. Amravati and another Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Court's or Judge's Order Coram, appearances, Court's Orders or directions and Registrar's order Shri S.B. Gandhe, Advocate for the applicant. Ms Shamsi Haider, A.P.P. for the non-applicant No.1/State. CORAM : ANIL S. KILOR, J.

DATED : 05/12/2022 1.

Heard.

2.

The applicant is seeking bail in Crime No.363 of 2022, registered with Police Station: Anjangaon, District: Amravati, for the offences punishable under Sections 366, 376, 376(2)(n) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (hereinafter referred to as "POCSO Act"). 3.

Shri Gandhe, learned counsel for the applicant submits that there was a love affair and the alleged crime is the outcome of the same.

4.

It is submitted that the applicant is 23 years young boy and he is in jail from last seven months. It is further argued that in this case, the investigation is completed and custody of the applicant is no more required. 5.

On the other hand, Ms Shamsi Haider, learned APP strongly opposes the present application and submits that the offence is serious and due to physical relation

committed by the applicant, the victim was pregnant. Accordingly, she prays for rejection of the present application.

6.

The victim and her mother are personally present in the Court. The victim does want to oppose the present application for the reason that she wants to marry the accused on attaining the age of majority. 7.

The learned counsel for the applicant states that the father of the accused is present in the Court and on instructions, he makes a statement that father of the accused is also informed him that the accused is going to marry the victim once she attends the age of majority.

8.

I have perused the Charge-sheet and First Information Report (FIR).

9.

From the charge-sheet, Prima facie it appears that there was a love affair between the applicant and the victim.

10.

The co-ordinate bench of this Court in the case of Sunil Madhav Patil Vs. State of Maharashtra 1 has observed thus:

"9. In view of the increasing offences against the women especially of rape, the legislature and judiciary both found it obligatory to deal these offences with severe punishment and women can be protected if the laws are made rigorous. Therefore, report of Justice Verma Committee was accepted and necessary and significant amendments were made in these two sections. A wrong doer is to be punished, guilty is to be convicted. However, at the stage of bail, the Court has 2016 ALL MR (Cri) 1712

to consider prima facie under what circumstances the offence is committed by the accused. In the Criminal law, the Court cannot ignore the intention or motive behind the act and that is an important factor in the commission of offence so also to decide the quantum of sentence at the end of trial, so in the case of bail.

10. The offence of rape can be distinguished on the basis of the intention of the accused. There are incidents of rapes committed by gang like the case of Nirbhaya or Maya Thagi or Mathura which cannot be forgotten by Indian Society. So also rape committed in a savage manner or repeatedly by a single accused. There are some instances of rape which take place as a man wants to satisfy his lust and animal within him overpowers his reason. There are instances of rape where a man and a woman both are in love with each other and get involved into sexual relationship due to either physical or psychological need and in such type of rape, there is no violence which exists in other types of rape.

11. Today teenagers are exposed to more sex related issues and lot of material is also available to them to know the sexual relationship between a man and a woman. Because of their impressionable age, girls and boys both may tend to get provoked and there can be a curious and very compelling demand of the body to get into such kind of relationship. Sexual urge differs from person to person and there cannot be any mathematical formula in respect of sexual behavioral pattern of teenagers, as biologically whenever the child turns into puberty, the child starts understanding his or her sexual needs. The nature of response depends on the upbringing, peer pressure, how civilized the environment is etc. Sex requires proper physical and emotional preparation, as it results in many physical and emotional consequences.

This is all considered as a sexual maturation. Therefore, some sects with view to regularize sexual behaviour of the community have acknowledged this biological factor and therefore, the early age marriages are performed in some religions or communities.

biological factors, the law makers have considered the age of 15 as a age of consent when the marriage is performed. Taking into consideration this background, the trial Judge has to pass an order of bail in such cases.

12. The overall considerations while deciding such applications can be summed up as - When a boy and a minor girl are in love with each other and chose to live together without consent of their parents, then the following factors are to be considered: (i) What is the age of the prosecutrix, who is minor. (ii) Whether the act is violent or not.

(iii) Whether there are antecedents or not.

(iv) Whether the offender is capable of repeating the Act or not.

(v) Whether there is likelihood of threats or intimidation, if at all the boy is released.

(vi) Whether any chance of tampering with the material witnesses when their statements are recorded. (vii) It is also to be taken into account in such cases that a boy in his early 20's deserves to get employment and to plan, stabilize and secure his future."

11.

In the circumstances, I am of the opinion that the applicant is entitled for grant of bail. Accordingly, I pass the following order:

a) The criminal application is allowed.

b) It is directed that the applicant shall be released on bail in Crime No.363 of 2022, registered with Police Station: Anjangaon, District: Amravati, for the offences punishable under Sections 366, 376, 376(2)(n) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (hereinafter referred to as "POCSO Act"), on furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs.25,000/- with one solvent surety in the like amount.

c) The applicant shall provide his address along with name of the nearby Police Station and shall attend the concerned Police Station on 1st and 16th date of each months between 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon, till the culmination of the trial. d) The applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution witnesses.

The criminal application is disposed of, accordingly.

JUDGE Signed By:CHETAN LOPCHAND DHAKATE Personal Assistant to the Hon'ble Judge