Raju Panda @ Sujit Panda v. State Of West Bengal And ANR

01/04/2026 D/L - 46 Court No.28 S. Kundu Allowed C.R.M.(A) 639 of 2026 In Re: An application for anticipatory bail under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023. In connection with Sutahata P.S case no. 170 of 2025 dated 19/06/2025 under sections 304 of the BNS and Sections 8/12 of the POCSO Act. In the matter of: Raju Panda @ Sujit Panda

...Petitioner.

Mr. Sobhan Majumder Md. Amanulla Molla Ms. Kalpita Paul ...for the petitioner.

Ms. Sayanti Santra Ms. Pallavi Priyadarshee ...for the State.

1. Report filed on behalf of the State is taken on record.

2. Despite service no one appears on behalf of the de-facto complainant.

3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits as follows. The petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case. There was a continuous working relationship between the two. The petitioner first used to teach the alleged victim and thereafter, used to take her to certain programs. There is no ingredient of sexual assault. In fact, the brother of the de-facto complainant had assaulted the petitioner's daughter after registration of the present FIR. Over this incident, an FIR had to be lodged. Charge sheet has also been submitted.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the State opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail. She relies on the statement

of the victim and the other witnesses and the injury report which, however, does not show infliction of any grievous injury. There is mention of evidence of some abrasions.

5. Considering the above and the other incriminating materials available in the case diary and the fact that there are cases pending between adverse sides, while I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, his movement shall remain restricted for a limited period.

6. In the event of arrest, the petitioner shall be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs.10,000/- each with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local, to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer and also be subject to further conditions that the petitioner shall cooperate with the investigation and shall not threaten or intimidate the witnesses. The petitioner shall meet the I.O once a week till submission of report in final form. The petitioner shall also stay outside the jurisdiction of Sutahata Police Station for a period of three months from date, except for meeting the I.O or attending the jurisdictional Court.

7. Accordingly, the application for anticipatory bail is allowed.

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

(Jay Sengupta, J.)