Calcutta High CourtCRM(M)/345/2026dismissed

Jhuma Mondal v. State Of West Bengal And ANR

2026-03-27Hon'Ble Justice Tirthankar Ghosh2 pages

27.03.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

Item No.41 CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS JURISDICTION Ct.No.35 dc.

Rejected C.R.M. (M) 345 of 2026 In Re : An Application for bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 corresponding to Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 filed in connection with Nager Bazar Police Station Case No. 71 of dated 19.03.2024 under Sections 120B/363A/370/370A of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Sections 3/4/5/6/7 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 and charge-sheet submitted under Sections 120B/366A/370/370A of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 6/17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Sections 3/4/5/6/7 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

And In Re : Jhuma Mondal ... Petitioner.

Mr. Anjan Bhattacharya, Ms. Seema Thakur ... For the Petitioner.

Mr. Manoranjan Mahata ... For the State.

Affidavit-of-service filed in Court today be kept with the record.

Learned advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is in custody since 19.03.2024 and till date, only one witness has been examined, out of 24 witnesses cited in the charge-sheet. As such, petitioner may be released on bail on any stringent condition. Learned advocate appearing for the State, on the other hand, opposes the prayer for bail and submits that the allegations are under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal

Code, Section 4 of the POCSO Act as well as relevant provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. I have taken into account the materials collected by the investigating agency. Having considered the gravity of the offence which involves trafficking of minors, at this stage, I am not inclined to release the petitioner on bail. As such, the prayer for bail of the petitioner is rejected. However, the State would take steps for substantial progress in the trial within the next 12 months. Petitioner would be at liberty to pray for bail after the aforesaid period is over.

The application for bail, being CRM (M) 345 of 2026, is, thus, disposed of.

All concerned parties shall act on the server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance with all requisite formalities.

(Tirthankar Ghosh, J.)