BHANU PRATAP vs STATE

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Reserved on : 18.08.2025 Pronounced on : 20.08.2025 + CRL.A. 964/2017 BHANU PRATAP .....Appellant Through: Mr. Kanhaiya Singhal, Ms. Vani Singhal, Mr. Binwant Singh, Mr. Rahul Bhaskar, Mr. Prasanna, Mr. Ajay and Mr. Pulkit, Advocates versus STATE .....Respondent Through: Mr. Pradeep Gahalot, APP for State Mr. Vinayak Bhandari and Ms. Teesta Mishra, Advocates for complainant CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ KUMAR OHRI JUDGMENT 1. By way of the present appeal, the appellant seeks to assail the judgment of conviction dated 24.08.2017 and the order on sentence dated 31.08.2017 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-01 (North- East), Special Court (POCSO Act), Karkardooma Courts, Delhi in SC No. 162/2016 arising out of FIR No. 480/2016 registered under Sections 376/377/506 IPC and Section 6 POCSO at P.S. Khajuri Khas, Delhi. Vide the impugned judgment, the appellant was convicted for the offence punishable under Section 6 POCSO; and vide the impugned order on sentence, he was sentenced to undergo RI for 10 years alongwith fine of Rs.40,000/-, in default whereof he was directed to undergo SI for 3 months. Signature Not Verified Signed By:GAUTAM CRL.A. 964/2017 1 of 14 ASWAL Signing Date:21.08.2025 19:04:06 The benefit of Section 428 Cr.P.C. was also given to the appellant. 2. The facts as noted by the Trial Court are as under:- “Briefly stated the case of the prosecution is, that on 16.06.2016, victim aged about 06 years alongwith her mother had come to the police station. She alleged that on 06.06.2016, she alongwith her mother had gone to the house of her maternal grandparents at XXX, Delhi. She further alleged that in the evening of 07.06.2016, her mother had left her at the house of her maternal aunt. Thereafter, her mo