KARTIK vs STATE OF NCT OF DELHI

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment reserved on: 12.05.2026 Judgment pronounced on: 14.05.2026 + CRL.A. 199/2025 KARTIK .....Appellant Through: Mr. Adit S. Pujari, Mr. Bhavesh Seth and Mr. Harshwardhan Pushkin Sharma, Advocates (DHCLSC). versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Utkarsh, APP for the State with SI Nikhil Kumar, PS Ambedkar Nagar. SI Kamal, PS Ambedkar Nagar. Mr. Himanshu Anand Gupta, Mr. Karan Jain and Ms. Mansi Yadav, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA JUDGMENT CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA, J. 1. In this appeal filed under Section 415(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (the BNSS), the sole CRL.A. 199/2025 Page 1 of 21 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:15.05.2026 10:22:30 accused in Sessions Case No. 727/2018 on the file of the Additional Sessions Judge (Special Court - PoCSO), South District, Saket Courts Complex, Delhi, assails the judgement dated 19.09.2024 and order on sentence dated 16.10.2024, as per which he has been convicted and sentenced for the offences punishable under Sections 376(2)(n) and 174A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (the IPC) and Section 5 (j)(ii) and (l) read with 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (the PoCSO Act). 2. The prosecution case is that in the month of September 2017 and on 05.11.2017, the accused committed repeated penetrative sexual assault/ rape upon PW1, a minor aged about 17 years and 08 months as a result of which, she became pregnant. Further, the accused failed to appear before the trial court on 20.07.2018 as required by the proclamation published on 19.06.2018, following which the accused was CRL.A. 199/2025 Page 2 of 21 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:15.05.2026 10: