ORDER :

Sequel to order dated 16.11.2021, whereby the petitioner was ordered to be enlarged on bail in case FIR No. 279/2021 dated 12.10.2021, registered at PS Sundernagar, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, under Section 376 of the IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, respondent-state has filed the status report. ASI Vijay Ram, I/O P.S. Sundernagar, is also present with the records. Records perused and returned.

2. Close scrutiny of record/status report reveals that on 20.10.2021, police after having received intimation from the Civil Hospital Sundernagar, District Mandi, that one minor girl, aged 12 years, is pregnant, recorded the statement of victim-prosecutrix (named withheld) under Section 154 Cr.PC, wherein she alleged that she is 16 years old and used to visit the house of her grandmother at Baggi. She disclosed to the police that during her visit to village Baggi, she developed acquaintance with present bail petitioner and wanted to solemnize marriage with him. She further disclosed to the police that one year back, she against the wishes of her parents solemnized marriage with the present bail petitioner and since then, had been residing with him as his wife. She stated