Sandeep Sharma, J

1. Bail petitioner namely Sonu, who is behind bars since 4.9.2022, has approached this court in the instant proceedings filed under S. 483 of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter, ‘ BNSS ’) for grant of regular bail in case FIR No. 84, dated 3.9.2022 under Ss. 363, 366, 376 and 506 IPC and Ss.4 and 21 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, registered at Police Station Talai, District Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

2. Respondent-State has filed status report and Investigating Officer i.e. SI Rakesh Kumar, Police Station Talai, District Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh has come present with record. Record perused and returned.

3. In nutshell, prosecution case is that on 3.9.2022, father of victim-prosecutrix lodged a complaint with the police that his minor daughter XYZ has gone missing. He alleged that his minor daughter, aged 16 years, has not returned home since the evening of 2.9.2022 and he has apprehension that some unknown person has made her elope with him, as such, appropriate action in accordance with be taken. After receipt of aforesaid complaint, police lodged FIR, as detailed herein above and started investigation. Bail petit