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Jammu & Kashmir High Court - Srinagar Bench
Jonesh Verma vs Union Territory Of Jammu And Kashmir on 23 February, 2026
Author: Rahul Bharti
Bench: Rahul Bharti
Serial No. 203
Supp.1 Cause List
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH
AT SRINAGAR
CRM(M) No.65/2026
CrlM No.148/2026
Jonesh Verma ...Petitioner(s)
Through: Mr. Ashish Sharma, Advocate.
Vs.
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir ...Respondent(s)
Through Station House Officer, Police
Station Rajbagh, Srinagar
Through: Ms. Maha Majeed, assisting counsel
Mr. Mohsin Qadri, Government Advocate.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAHUL BHARTI, JUDGE
ORDER
23.02.2026
1. The petitioner is a serving official in Jammu and
Kashmir Police having even served posting as
Station House Officer (SHO) in one of Police
Stations in UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Presently,
the petitioner is serving as Inspector in Special
Operation Group (SOG) DUDU, Udhampur Range.
2. The petitioner finds himself named as an accused
in a Zero FIR No. 001/2026 dated 12.02.2026
registered by the Police Station Women Cell
Udhampur for alleged commission of offences
under sections 342, 376 (2)(c) and 506 Indian
Penal Code which Zero FIR No. 001/2026 came to
be transferred to the Police Station Rajbagh,
Srinagar to be re-numbered as FIR No.05/2026
dated 12.02.2026 for alleged commission of
offences under sections 376 (2)(c), 506 and 342
Indian Penal Code (IPC).
3. The registration of Zero FIR No. 001/2026 by
Women Cell Police Station Udhampur, is
purportedly on the basis of an e-mail sent by the
complainant Ms. Rakshanda Vishwanath
Sonavane from her e-mail Id
'[email protected]' addressed on e-mail
Id '[email protected]'.
4. Long drawn narrative set out in said Zero FIR
No.001/2026 reflects the address of the
complainant Ms. Rakshanda Vishwanath
Sonavane to be that of district Thane Maharashtra
and occupation as National Coordinator NGO.
5. In her alleged e-mail complaint, said complainant
refers to have come in contact with the petitioner
through a friend request on Facebook in June
2023, and thereby becoming Facebook Friends. In
the complaint, it is further referred that two had
meetings taking place at different parts of India
which includes even Srinagar.
6. The complainant alleges that she was enticed into
physical relationship with the petitioner on the
promise of marriage but later on the petitioner is
said to have chosen to avoid and abandoned her
thereby alleging that she has become victim of
alleged offences at the hands of the petitioner.
7. Finding himself confronted with the scenario of FIR
coming to incriminate him, the petitioner comes up
with two petitions i.e. CRM(M) No.65/2026 under
section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha
Sanhita, (BNSS), 2023 thereby seeking quashment
of FIR No. 001/2026 of Police Station Women Cell
Udhampur read with FIR No. 005/2026 of Police
Station Rajbagh.
8. Other petition is bail application No.14/2026
whereby the petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail.
9. This Court, in terms of an order dated 20.02.2026
in CRM(M) No.65/2026, had deferred the
indulgence for the purpose of seeking production
and perusal of the Case Diary File along with I.O
concerned.
10.After having gone through the Case Diary File,
this Court is of prima-facie view that there are
salient aspects, factual as well as legal which
warrants indulgence particularly the manner in
which the Women Cell Police Station Udhampur
came to be approached through e-mail by the
complainant named Ms. Rakshanda Vishwanath
Sonavane and further the manner in which the
transfer of Zero FIR from Women Cell Police
Station Udhampur came to take place to Police
Station Rajbagh, Srinagar.
11. Prima-facie case made out.
12. Issue notice.
13. Notice accepted by Ms. Maha Majeed, Assisting
counsel vice Mr. Mohsin Qadri, learned Sr.AAG on
behalf of respondent No.1.
14. Notice shall go to the respondents 2 , 3 and 4.
15. Petitioner to furnish registered postal covers,
whereupon notices to go to the respondents 2, 3
and 4.
16. In the meantime, further investigation in FIR No.
001/2026 shall remain stayed. This order is,
however, subject to objections from the
respondents No.1.
17. Case Diary File is returned to Ms. Maha Majeed
Assisting counsel to Mr. Mohsin Qadri, Sr.AAG, for
being return to I.O concerned.
18. List again on 23.03.2026.
(RAHUL BHARTI)
JUDGE
SRINAGAR:
23.02.2026
"Opinder"
