Citation : 2026 Latest Caselaw 1847 MP
Judgement Date : 20 February, 2026
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:5280
1 MCRC-2307-2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT INDORE
BEFORE
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE SANJEEV S KALGAONKAR
ON THE 20th OF FEBRUARY, 2026
MISC. CRIMINAL CASE No. 2307 of 2026
SUNIL
Versus
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS
Appearance:
Shri Ravindra Singh Parmar advocate for applicant.
Shri Gajendra Singh Dodia public prosecutor for State.
Shri Rudra Tiwari advocate for objector.
ORDER
1 . This first application has been filed by applicant under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 for grant of regular bail in connection with Crime No. 402 of 2025 registered at Police Station- Suthalia (Mau) District Rajgadh (M.P.) for offence punishable under Sections 115(2), 351(3), 64(2)(m), 65(1), 78(1)(i), 87
of the BNS, 2023 and 5l, 6 of the POCSO Act. Applicant is in judicial custody since 25.12.2025.
2. Heard the arguments.
3. Perused the grounds for grant of bail stated in the application, case diary and the relevant material on record.
4. Learned counsel for the applicant in addition to the grounds
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:5280
2 MCRC-2307-2026 mentioned in the application submits that the applicant is falsely implicated in the alleged offence over the dispute of possession on a piece of land between the family members. Learned counsel referring to the order dated 8.9.2016 passed in case No. 257/Fojdari/2014 submits that grand-father of the victim had falsely alleged disturbance of possession by the grand-father of the applicant. The allegation was dismissed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate Biaora Rajgadh. The rivalry between the parties is continuing. The DNA examination report exonerates the applicant. No offence, as alleged, is committed by the applicant. The allegations, reflected in the FIR and the statement of victim, are highly improbable and inconsistent. 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 for the reason that he is not capable of influencing the witness. The final report has been submitted on completion of investigation. The trial would take time to conclude. Jail incarceration is causing hardship to the young applicant. Applicant is ready to cooperate in the trial. The alleged offence is not heinous or brutal in nature affecting society at large.
5. Per contra, learned counsel for the State ably assisted by counsel for the objector, opposes the application on the ground of gravity of alleged offence. Learned counsel further referring to the DNA examination report submits that the DNA profile extracted from source material of the victim does not match with the DNA profile extracted
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:5280
3 MCRC-2307-2026 from source material of the applicant. After going through the case diary, he fairly states that no criminal antecedent is reported against the applicant. Applicant is aged 23 years. He is labourer by profession.
6. As per the accusation on case diary, applicant Sunil committed rape with the victim in the night of 17.12.2025 around 2:00 am when she went out of the house to answer the nature's call. Thereafter, Sunil called her to his house and committed rape with her on multiple occasions. She informed her parents and came to report. On such allegations, the Police Station Suthaliya registered FIR for offence punishable under Sections 78(1)(i), 87, 64(2)(m), 65(1), 115(2), 351(3) of BNS and Section 5l, 6 of POCSO Act. The applicant was arrested on 25.12.2025. He is in custody ever since. The DNA report does not substantiate the allegation of penetrative sexual assault by applicant. The final report has been filed on completion of investigation. The trial is under way. The contentions advanced by the applicant have prima-facie merit and cannot be dismissed as manifestly baseless. The veracity of the prosecution and complicity of the applicant in the alleged offence will be considered after evidence in trial.
7. 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
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:5280
4 MCRC-2307-2026 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.
8. 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.
9. Accordingly, it is directed that applicant- Sunil shall be released on bail in connection with Crime, as mentioned in first paragraph of this order, upon furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/-(Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with one 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;
(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
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-IND:5280
5 MCRC-2307-2026 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 ।
10. 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.
11. 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
BDJ
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