SHEELA vs STATE (NCT OF DELHI)

Judgment text excerpt

$~8 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 07.05.2026 + BAIL APPLN. 966/2026 SHEELA .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Kajal Chandra, Ms. Hatneimawi, Mr. Ananyay Bhardwaj and Mr. Suyash Swarup, Advocates versus STATE (NCT OF DELHI) .....Respondent Through: Mr. Naresh Kumar Chahar, APP for the State CORAM: HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA JUDGMENT DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J. (Oral) 1. By way of the present application, the applicant seeks grant of regular bail in case arising out of FIR bearing no. 24/2025, registered at Police Station Shastri Park, Delhi for the commission of offence punishable under Sections 137(2)/143(4)/143(7)/61/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (hereafter ‘BNS’) and Section 81 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (hereafter ‘JJ Act’). 2. Briefly stated, the facts of the present case, as per prosecution, are that on 05.06.2025, information was received from one Home Signature Not Verified BAIL APPLN. 966/2026 Page 1 of 7 Digitally Signed By:ZEENAT PRAVEEN Signing Date:08.05.2026 19:10:40 Guard, Sachin, regarding the kidnapping of a 2½-month-old male child of the complainant Poonam, a beggar residing near Seelampur Metro Station. The complainant stated that she used to beg at Seelampur Metro Station along with one lady Devaki, who also used to beg at the same metro station. She stated that on 04.06.2025, she had temporarily handed over her infant son to co-accused Devaki while she had gone to purchase a feeding bottle, during which period Devaki had allegedly absconded with the child. Despite local enquiry, examination of CCTV footage and sustained efforts made by the local police, no clue regarding the accused or the child could initially be found. Subsequently, the investigation had b