RAMEES M.P. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant is the accused in Crime No.251 of 2024 of Mala Police Station, Thrissur. He challenges the order rejecting his application for bail in Crl.M.P.No.4567 of 2024 on the files of the Additional Sessions Court-I, Thrissur.

(2.) The prosecution alleges that during the Onam examination in the year 2023, the accused, who was the teacher in the school where the minor victim was studying, sat near her and fondled her hand with sexual intent and thereby committed the offences under Ss. 354A(1)(i) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Sec. 8 r/w Sec. 7, Sec. 10 r/w Sec. 9(f) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 apart from Sec. 3(1) (w)(i) and Sec. 3(2)(Va) of the Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The appellant was taken into custody on 8/7/2024 and his application for regular bail was dismissed by the impugned order dtd. 2/8/2024.

(3.) After this appeal came up for consideration, the learned Public Prosecutor was requested to ensure that notice to the victim was served through the Station House Officer concerned. The learned Public Prosecutor has informed the Court that notice to the victim has already been served on 11/8/2024. Despite service of notice on the victim, there is no appearance.