PONDSON JOHN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an application seeking regular bail filed under Sec. 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(2.) Petitioner is the first accused in Crime No.178/2022 of Pathanamthitta Vanitha Police Station registered for offences under Ss. 450, 341, 376 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Ss. 3(a) and (b) r/w Sec. 4, Sec. 7 r/w Sec. 8 and Sec. 9(l) r/w Sec. 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

(3.) Prosecution case is that on 12/3/2022, whe the victim ' a girl of 17 years, was brought for counselling to the house of the petitioner, who is a priest, during the course of the counselling, he committed sexual assault on the victim and thereafter on the next day, again under the guise of counselling, he repeated the sexual acts including penetrative sexual assault on the victim.