Subhankar Sutradhar v. The State Of West Bengal And ANR

33.

07.04.2025 Court No.1 (Papiya) Allowed CALCUTTA HIGH COURT

IN THE CIRCUIT BENCH AT JALPAIGURI

APPELLATE SIDE CRM (A) 98 of 2025 In Re: - An application for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 / Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with Siliguri Women Police Station Case No.

of 2024 dated 15/12/2024 under Sections 6 and 17 of the of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2013 and Section 506 of IPC. And In the matter of: - Subhankar Sutradhar ...petitioner.

Mr. Somraj Paul, Adv.

...for the petitioner.

Ms. Deborshi Dhar, Adv.

...for the de-facto complainant.

Mr. Nilay Chakraborty, Adv.

Mr. Subhasish Misra, Adv.

...for the State.

1. The petitioner says that there is a long-standing relationship between him and the victim lady who was a minor at the time of the alleged incident. On the date of lodging of the complaint, she had already become a major. The petitioner and the lady plan to get married. They also have support of their families. He prays for anticipatory bail.

2. Learned Advocate for the State, while opposing the prayer for anticipatory bail, in his usual fairness, leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court.

3. Learned Advocate appears for the de facto complainant/the victim lady and supports the submission made on behalf of the petitioner.

4. In view of the aforesaid, I am inclined to allow the petitioner's prayer for pre-arrest bail.

5. Accordingly, in the event of arrest, the petitioner, namely, Subhankar Sutradhar, shall be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand), with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local, to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer and shall abide by the conditions laid down in Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 /Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, until further orders and on further condition that the petitioner shall meet the Investigating Officer of this case once in a fortnight and as and when call for, until further orders. Within seven days from date, the petitioner shall go and meet the Investigating Officer of this case.

6. The application for anticipatory bail being CRM (A) 98 of 2025 is thus allowed and disposed of.

7. Criminal Section is directed to supply certified copies of this order to the parties, if applied for, upon compliance of all necessary formalities.

(Arijit Banerjee, J.)