S.GOPINATH Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 26/8/2022 for the offences punishable under Ss. 506(i) of IPC, Ss. 7, 8, 16, 17 and 19 of POCSO Act, 2012 in Crime No.5 of 2022 on the file of the Respondent Police, seeks bail.

(2.) It is the case of the prosecution that the Petitioner is the driver of the private van owned by the A1, in which the school students were transported. It is alleged that on the date of occurrence, while the Petitioner was driving the van, A1 who is the owner of the van misbehaved and molested the minor victim girl aged 15 years. Hence the complaint.

(3.) The learned Counsel for the Petitioner submitted that A1 is the Van Owner and he is alleged to have indulged in the offence attracting POCSO Act. The petitioner is A2, who is the driver of the van and A1 was already granted bail by the Special Judge for Exclusive Trial of Cases under POCSO Act, Vellore. Hence, he prays for grant of bail to the Petitioner.