Citation : 2026 Latest Caselaw 1185 MP
Judgement Date : 5 February, 2026
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:3816
1 MCRC-4561-2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT INDORE
BEFORE
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE SANJEEV S KALGAONKAR
ON THE 5 th OF FEBRUARY, 2026
MISC. CRIMINAL CASE No. 4561 of 2026
ISHWAR
Versus
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
Appearance:
Shri Shubham Narvare - Advocate for the applicant.
Shri Sunit Kapoor - Govt. Advocate for the respondent/State.
Shri Bharat Sharma - Advocate for the respondent [COMP].
ORDER
This first application has been filed by the applicant under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 for grant of bail in connection with Crime No. 629/2025 registered at Police Station - Tarana District - Ujjain (M.P.) for offence punishable under Sections 137(2) & 64(2)(m) of BNS, 2023 and Section 5L/6 of POCSO Act, 2012 & Section 9,10,11 of Prevention of Child Marriage Act. Applicant is in judicial custody since 05.12.2025.
Heard the arguments.
Perused the grounds for grant of bail stated in the application, case diary and the relevant material on record.
Learned counsel for the applicant, in addition to the grounds mentioned in the application, submits that the applicant is falsely implicated in the alleged offence. Applicant was married to the victim with the consent
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:3816
2 MCRC-4561-2026 of both the family members. The maternal Uncle of victim desires to marry her elsewhere, therefore, he lodged false report. The victim in her statements recorded u/S 180 and 183 of BNSS, 2023 did not support the accusation. Rather exonerated the applicant and submits that she had married with the applicant with the consent of family after attaining the age of 18 years. The determination of age during investigation is doubtful. Applicant has clean past, with family roots. There is no history of evading process of law. There is no likelihood of tampering with evidence by the applicant. Jail incarceration is causing hardship to the young applicant. Applicant is ready to cooperate in trial.
Per contra, learned counsel for the State ably assisted by learned counsel for the objector opposes the application on the ground of gravity of
alleged offence. However, after going through the case diary, he fairly states that no criminal antecedent is reported against the applicant. Applicant is aged around 22 years and is an agriculturist by profession.
According to the accusation on case diary, applicant aged around 22 years kidnapped the minor victim aged around 14 years and subjected her to penetrative sexual assault. Prima-facie, the element of inducement, enticement, compulsion or force to marry is missing in the statement of victim recorded under sections 180 and 183 of BNSS, 2023. The final report has been submitted on completion of investigation. The contentions advanced by the applicant have prima-facie merit and cannot be dismissed as manifestly baseless. The veracity of prosecution, age of the victim and complicity of the applicant in the alleged offence will be determined after
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:3816
3 MCRC-4561-2026 evidence in the trial.
As informed, the applicant is still dependent on family and survives on occasional labour work. Considering these aspects, there appears to be no possibility of fleeing from justice. In absence of any criminal antecedent, considering the socio-economic status of the applicant, there appears to be no likelihood of recidivism or tampering with evidence or influencing the witnesses by the applicant. There appears to be no compelling reason to continue incarceration of the young applicant. However, the observations, herein-above, are recorded for present application only.
Considering the rival contentions and overall circumstances of the case, in the light of aforestated facts, but without commenting on the merits, this Court is inclined to release the applicant on bail. Thus, the application is allowed.
Accordingly, it is directed that applicant -Ishwar shall be released on bail in connection with the Crime as mentioned in first paragraph of this order, upon furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) with one solvent surety of the same amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court, for compliance with the following conditions: (For convenience of understanding by accused and surety, the conditions of bail are also reproduced in Hindi as under):-
(1) Applicant shall remain present on every date of hearing as may be directed by the concerned court;
(1) आवेदक संबंिधत यायालय के िनदशानुसार सुनवाई क येक ितिथ पर उप थत रहे गा । (2) Applicant shall not commit or get involved in any offence of similar nature; (2) आवेदक समान कृ ित का केाई अपराध नह ं करे गा या उसम स मिलत नह ं होगा । (3) Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade them/him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to the police officer;
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:3816
4 MCRC-4561-2026 (3) आवेदक करण के त य से प रिचत कसी य को य या अ य प से लोभन, धमक या वचन नह ं दे गा, जससे ऐसा य ऐसे त य को यायालय या पुिलस अिधकार को कट करने से िनवा रत हो ।
(4) Applicant shall not directly or indirectly attempt to tamper with the evidence or allure, pressurize or threaten the witness; (4) आवदे क य या अ य प से सा य के साथ छे डछाड करने का या सा ी या सा य को बहलाने-फुसलाने, दबाव डालने या धमकाने का यास नह ं करे गा । (5) During trial, the applicant shall ensure due compliance of provisions of Section 309 of Cr.P.C./346 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 regarding examination of witnesses in attendance; (5) वचारण के दौरान, उप थत गवाह से पर ण के संबंध म आवेदक धारा ३०९ दं . .सं./ ३४६ भारतीय नाग रक सुर ा सं हता, 2023 के ावधान का उिचत अनुपालन सुिन त करे गा ।
This order shall be effective till the end of trial. However, in case of breach of any of the preconditions of bail, the trial Court may consider, on merit, cancellation of bail without any impediment from this order.
The trial Court shall get these conditions reproduced on the personal bond by the accused and on surety bond by the surety concerned. If any of them is unable to write, the scribe shall certify that he/she had explained the conditions to the concerned accused or the surety.
C.C. as per rules.
(SANJEEV S KALGAONKAR) JUDGE
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