Govindaraj v. The State Represented By

Crl.O.P.No.1450 of 2024 Crl.O.P.No.1450 of 2024 C.V.KARTHIKEYAN,J.

The petitioner who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 04.12.2023 for the offences punishable under Section Girl Missing and subsequently, altered to Sections 366, 363, 376(2)(n) of IPC and Sections 5(1), 6(1) of POCSO Act, 2012 in Crime No.650 of 2023 on the file of the respondent Police, seeks bail.

2.It is the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the victim child had voluntarily gone away with the petitioner, since her marriage was proposed to be conducted with another person. It is stated that the petitioner is related to the victim child. 3.But the victim is studying only in 11th standard and the petitioner is aged 36 years.

4.It is contented by the learned Government Advocate (crl.side) that the investigation has been completed. But there must be some protection given to the victim child, since she is vulnerable witness and there is every possibility of influence being extorted. In the statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C recorded, she had described this petitioner as a neighbour not as a https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 1/2

Crl.O.P.No.1450 of 2024 relative.

C.V.KARTHIKEYAN,J.

Vkr 5.At this stage, I am not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner. 6.Hence, this Criminal Original Petition is dismissed. 08.02.2024 vkr Crl.O.P.No.1450 of 2024 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 2/2