MANTRAM @ MANTRA @ SONU vs STATE OF NCT OF DELHI

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Reserved on: 20th January, 2026 Pronounced on: 4th February, 2026 Uploaded on: 4th February, 2026 + CRL.A. 601/2025 & CRL.M.(BAIL) 2499/2025 MANTRAM @ MANTRA @ SONU .....Appellant Through: Ms. Supriya Juneja, Ms. Shreya Lamba and Mr. Akhil Sharma Advocates. versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Ritesh Kumar Bahri (APP for State), Mr. Lalit Luthra and Mr. Vinesh Kumar, Advocates. Insp. Yogesh Kumar, P.S. Govind Puri, S.I. Lokesh Kumar, P.S. Govind Puri. CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE MADHU JAIN JUDGMENT MADHU JAIN, J. 1. The present appeal has been filed by the Appellant under Section 415 (2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter, ‘BNSS’) assailing the impugned judgment dated 21st March, 2025 (hereinafter, ‘impugned order’) and order on sentence dated 25th March, 2025, passed by ld. ASJ-06 (POCSO Act), South East, Saket Court, Delhi in Sessions Case No.290/2017. 2. The present case arises out of FIR No.101/2017 registered at P.S. Govind Puri dated 14th March, 2017 under Sections 376/366 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter, ‘IPC’) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (hereinafter, ‘POCSO Act’). The Appellant herein has been charged with the offences of kidnapping, rape, Signature Not Verified Signed By:RENUKA CRL.A. 601/2025 Page 1 of 27 NEGI Signing Date:04.02.2026 17:58:51 criminal intimidation, and aggravated penetrative sexual assault in respect of the Prosecutrix, who was a minor at the relevant time. The allegations include the insertion of his finger into her vagina. 3. By the impugned judgment of conviction and order of sentence, the Appellant was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life with fine under Section 6 POCSO, ri