MANNU vs THE STATE (GOVT. OF NCT) OF DELHI

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment Reserved on: 19.01.2026 Judgment pronounced on: 22.01.2026 + CRL.A. 583/2024 & CRL.M.(BAIL) 1129/2024 MANNU .....Appellant Through: Md. Aslam, Mr. Saroj K. and Mr.Chirayu Sharma, Advocates. versus THE STATE (GOVT. OF NCT) OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Pradeep Gahalot, APP for State with SI Shubhanshu, P.S. Kalyanpuri. Mr. Himanshu Anand Gupta (DSLSA), Ms. Mansi Yadav, Mr.Sidharth Barua, Ms. Navneet Kaur, Mr. Shekhar Anand Gupta and Ms. Shivani Rampal, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA JUDGMENT CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA, J. 1. In this appeal filed under Section 374(2) read with Section 383 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (the Cr.P.C.), the appellant, the sole accused, in SC No. 499 of 2017 on the file of the Special Court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, (the PoCSO Act) East district, Delhi, assails the judgment dated 08.02.2023 and order on sentence dated 27.03.2023 as per which he has been convicted and sentenced for Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 583/2024 Page 1 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:22.01.2026 12:30:37 the offences punishable under Section 6 of the PoCSO Act and Section 376(2)(f) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (the IPC). 2. The prosecution case is that about 8 months prior to the registration of the crime, the accused committed penetrative sexual assault on PW1, a minor girl aged about 14 years multiple times at Jhuggi No.1070, 18 Block, Kalyan Puri, Delhi, thereby impregnating her. He also threatened her with dire consequences in case she did not accede to his demands. Hence, as per the final report/ chargesheet, the accused is alleged to have committed the offences punishable under Sections 363, 376, 506 IPC and Section 6 of