MANOHAR LAL Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Bail petitioner namely Manohar Lal, who is behind bars since 5.8.2017, has approached this Court in the instant proceedings for grant of bail in FIR No. 68, dated 5.8.2017, under Ss.363, 366 and 376 IPC and S.4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, registered at Police Station, Padhar, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

(2.) Sequel to orders dated 23.7.2019 and 1.8.2019, ASI Kulmesh Singh, I/O, Police Station, Padhar, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh has come present with the record. Mr. Kunal Thakur, learned Deputy Advocate General has also placed on record status report prepared by the investigating agency on the basis of investigation carried out by it. Record perused and returned.

(3.) Record made available to this Court, reveals that on 5.8.2017, complainant Anoop Singh lodged a complaint at Police Station, Padhar, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, alleging therein that his minor daughter, aged 15 years (name withheld), had gone to School on 29.7.2017, but has not come back from School. Complainant further alleged that on 1.8.2017, victimprosecutrix telephonically called him and informed that she was at Chandigarh and disconnected the phone. Complainant further alleged that thereafter father of the bail petitioner, Med Ram and one Kewlu Ram, came to his house and informed that Med Ram's son i.e. bail petitioner had also not come home for the last 2-3 days. He alleged that the person namely Kewlu Ram managed conversation between victim-prosecutrix and the complainant, who informed that she was in the company of the bail petitioner. Complainant alleged that he apprehends that the bail petitioner compelled the victim-prosecutrix to elope with him on the pretext of marriage and as such, appropriate action be taken against the bail petitioner.