JUDGMENT

1. This petition is filed by the petitioner under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, for granting regular bail.

2. The respondent-Police arrested the petitioner in Crime No.340/2019 for the offences punishable under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, read with Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (hereinafter referred as POCSO Act). The petitioner approached the Special Court for grant of bail, which came to be rejected. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court.

3. On the complaint of the uncle of the victim, namely Anuj Gupta, the Police registered a case in Crime No.340/2019. It is alleged that the petitioner was engaged by the complainant for doing carpentry work in his flat at Seegehalli and the accused-petitioner found his brothers daughter alone in the house, at that time, he hugged the victim girl on 23-12-2019 at 11:00 a.m. On registering the complaint, the police arrested the petitioner and he was sent to judicial custody.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has contended that the petitioner is innocent and he has been falsely implicated. The alleged offences though non-bailable, but are not punishabl