JUDGMENT

1. This petition is filed by the petitioner - accused under Section 439 of Cr.P.C for grant of regular bail in Cr.No.4/2022 of Y.N. Hosakote, Police Station, in Spl.S.C.No.113/2022 pending on the file of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-1, Tumakuru, for the offences punishable under Sections 12 and 8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, (for short 'POCSO Act') and Sections 511, 504 and 376 of IPC.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned HCGP for respondent no.1-State. Respondent no.2 was served, but unrepresented.

3. The case of the prosecution is that on the complaint of respondent no.2 herein mother of the victim girl lodged a complaint to the police on 14.01.2022 alleging that she went to her parents house for delivery of second child and victim girl was her first child aged about 05 years. On 13.01.2022, the victim girl was playing outside their house. After some time, she came out of the house and found her daughter was not there; she went in search of her daughter near the house of the petitioner and called her daughter. At that time, the petitioner came out of his house and on enquiry he stated that her daugh