RAMAPPA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed by the petitioner-accused under Section 439 of Cr.P.C. seeking bail in Crime No.37/2020 of Dharwad Women Police Station registered for the offence punishable under Section 354(A) of IPC and under Section 8 of Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012(for short POCSO Act ).

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that victim girl has filed a complaint on 06.07.2020 alleging that on 29.06.2020 when the victim was at home with her mother and grandmother went out of the house for nature call, when the victim girl was sleeping at home, the petitioner having entered the house caught-hold of her mouth tightly and touched her body parts with sexual intent. The victim girl somehow rescued herself from the petitioner and when she shouted the petitioner ran away who being none other than her neighbor. The said complaint came to be registered in Crime No.37/2020 of Dharwad Women Police for the offence punishable under Section 354(A)of IPC and under Section 8 of POCSO Act 2012 against this petitioner. Petitioner was arrested on 25.07.2020. Petitioner has filed bail petitioner before the II Addl. District and Sessions and Special Judge, Dharwad and the same came to be rejected by order dated 18.08.2020. Hence, petitioneraccused is before this Court seeking bail.

(3.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner-accused and learned HCGP for respondent-State.