Ranjithkumar v. State Rep By The Station House Officer,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 09-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Ranjithkumar ..Petitioner Vs State rep. by the Station House Officer, Mettupalayam Police Station, Puducherry, Crime No.47 of 2026.

..Respondent PRAYER : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Crime No. 47 of 2026, on the file of the respondent police. For Petitioner:

Mr.P.Pandiyaraj For Respondent:

Ms.G.Djearany Government Advocate (Puducherry)

ORDER

The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 30.04.2026 for the alleged offences under Section 10 of the POCSO Act, in Crime No.47 of 2026 on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the defacto complainant is the wife of the petitioner. The defacto complainant having a female child aged about 11 years from her first marriage. Due to matrimonial dispute, the petitioner and the defacto complainant are living separately. On 27.04.2026, the defacto

complainant and the victim came to the petitioner's house for getting transfer certificate of the victim from her school. It is further alleged that on 28.04.2026, the petitioner sexually assaulted the victim. Hence the case.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that due to a matrimonial dispute, the petitioner and the defacto complainant are living separately. In order to take vengeance, the defacto complainant has foisted a false complaint against the petitioner, alleging that the petitioner sexually assaulted his step daughter. It was further submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner is an innocent law-abiding citizen and was not involved in the alleged crime. Hence, the learned counsel prays for grant of bail to the petitioner.

4. At this juncture, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) submitted that the statement under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which contains serious allegations against the petitioner. It was further submitted that if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, it would cause fear in the mind of the victim girl.

5. I have given anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side.

6. From the submissions of the learned counsel on both sides and considering the dominant position of the petitioner as the stepfather and as rightly contended by the learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) that if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, it would cause fear in the mind of the victim girl. Hence, this Court is not inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail.

7. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. 09-06-2026 NSL To

1. The Station House Officer, Mettupalayam Police Station, Puducherry.

2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

NSL 09-06-2026