GANESH Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard.

(2.) The accused has filed this application under Sec. 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure praying that the First Information Report registered against him for the offence punishable under Sec. 23 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act of 2012") be quashed.

(3.) The applicant-accused was Editorial Head of the daily "Lokmat" at Amravati District Office at the relevant time i.e. in 2014. The news item was published in "Lokmat Hello Amravati" on 23/12/2014, which according to the non-applicant no. 2-victim was objectionable, inasmuch as it disclosed her identity in connection with some illegal activities alleged to be going on in Child Care Home maintained by Vidarbha Maharogi Seva Mandal at Tapovan, Amravati. At the relevant time, the non-applicant no. 2-victim was aged about 17 years.