ARMAAN ALAM vs STATE NCT OF DELHI

Judgment text excerpt

$~ * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment delivered on: 21.07.2025 + CRL.A. 319/2025 & CRL.M.(BAIL) 586/2025 ARMAAN ALAM .....Appellant Through: Ms. Sunita Arora, Advocate versus STATE NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Naresh Kumar Chahar, APP for the State with Ms. Piya Mann, Advocate. Ms. Sakshi Jayant, Advocate for Victim. CORAM: HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA JUDGMENT DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J 1. By way of the present appeal, the appellant seeks setting aside of the judgment dated 07.12.2024 and order on sentence dated 31.01.2025 [hereafter ‗impugned judgment and order‘], passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge (FTSC)(POCSO)-02, West, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi [hereafter ‗Trial Court‘] in Sessions Case No. 111/2020, arising out of FIR No. 841/2019, registered at Police Station Nihal Vihar, Delhi for the commission of offence punishable under Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 [hereafter ‗POCSO Act‘]. CRL.A. 319/2025 Page 1 of 17 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN Signing Date:25.07.2025 18:52:38 FACTUAL BACKGROUND 2. Pithily put, the facts of the present case are that on 16.12.2019 at about 05:00 PM, the victim child, aged about 14 years, had gone to a nearby shop to buy eatables, when she had allegedly been inappropriately touched on her chest by the accused, who had been standing outside the said shop. The victim had returned home without buying anything and had narrated the incident to her mother. Her mother had immediately gone to the shop and confronted the accused; however, he had entered into an argument with her and had left the spot thereafter. The mother of the victim child had then informed her husband about the incident, who, upon reaching home, had calle