K.A.HASSAN ABDULLAH Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an application for regular bail filed by the sole accused in Crime No.112 of 2024 of Cheruthuruthy Police Station, under Sec. 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor in detail. Perused the case diary and report of the Investigating Officer placed by the learned Public Prosecutor.

(3.) The prosecution case is that at about 22.30 hours on 22/1/2024, while the defacto complaint, who is aged 14 years, was sitting along with his friend in a shed used as a club at Arangottukara, the accused, aged about 40 years, who was engaged in sale of mattresses, showed the picture of the mattresses to the defacto complainant and under this pretext caught on the penis of the defacto complainant and thereby he was subjected to sexual assault. Further he brought the minor along with him to his residence and caught on his penis again and thereby committed offences punishable under Sec. 451 of the Indian Penal Code and Sec. 8 r/w 7, 10 r/w 9(l), 18 of 4(1) r/w 3(a) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act ('PoCSO Act' for short).