JAI MANGAL MEHTO vs STATE (GOVT. N.C.T. OF DELHI))

$~ * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment delivered on: 27.10.2025 CRL.A. 123/2025 & CRL.M.(BAIL) 215/2025 JAI MANGAL MEHTO .....Appellant Through: Mr. R.K. Bhardwaj and Mr. Muntazir Mehndi, Advs. versus STATE (GOVT. N.C.T. OF DELHI)) .....Respondent Through: Mr. Naresh Kumar Chahar, APP for the State along with SI Neelu and SI Sangeeta. CORAM: HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA JUDGMENT DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J 1. By way of this appeal, the appellant seeks setting aside of the judgment of conviction dated 07.10.2024 [hereafter „impugned judgment‟] and order on sentence dated 03.12.2024 [hereafter „impugned order on sentence‟] passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-01 (POCSO) South-West, Dwarka Courts, New Delhi [hereafter „Trial Court‟] in Sessions Case No. 233/2022, whereby the appellant was convicted for commission of offence punishable under Section 18 read with Section 5(m)(n) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012 [hereafter „POCSO Act‟] and Section CRL.A. 123/2025 2. The present case presents the story of victim „X‟, who is only nine years of age. She narrates her harrowing experience which was traumatic mentally and devas