STATE vs SANJAY MANDAL

Judgment text excerpt

$~12 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of decision: 18th December,2025 + CRL.A. 277/2021 & CRL.M.A. 4698/2020 STATE .....Appellant Through: Mr. Yudhvir Singh Chauhan, APP with SI Deepika, PS Vikas Puri versus SANJAY MANDAL .....Respondent Through: Mr. Sintu Kumar and Mr. Manish Kumar, Advocates CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIVEK CHAUDHARY HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN JUDGMENT 1. The present appeal has been filed by the State assailing the judgment dated 04.12.2019, whereby the accused i.e. respondent herein has been acquitted of the charges framed against him. 2. The accused person, namely, Sanjay Mandal, was charged with offences punishable under Section 506 Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences, 2012 (POCSO Act). 3. The case of the prosecution is, as emanating from the record, that on 27.02.2014, in the evening hours, the prosecutrix, a minor girl aged about 13 years, was playing with other children in the gali near her residence at Budella Village, Vikaspuri, Delhi. The accused, who was her neighbor, first asked her to bring milk from a nearby shop and gave her money for said purpose. After purchasing the milk and handing it over to accused, children resumed playing the game of hide and seek. Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed CRL.A. 277/2021 1 By:SONIA THAPLIYAL Signing Date:23.12.2025 15:13:05 4. While the other children were hiding, accused, forcibly, pulled the prosecutrix into his room and bolted the door from inside. The accused allegedly took out a knife and threatened her with dire consequences, if she raised any alarm. Accused removed leggings of the prosecutrix, made her lie down on a gunny bag, then, undressed himself and committed penetrative sexual assault upon her. Thereafter,