ORDER :

1. This Criminal Petition is filed to quash the proceedings against the petitioner/accused in SC(POCSO) No.305 of 2020 on the file of III Additional District and Sessions Court, FTC at Gadwal (I Additional Sessions Judge Court at Mahabubnagar).

2. The case against the petitioner is the teacher of the victim girl and a video was viral in whatsapp group in which the petitioner was seen sexually abusing the victim girl. The Station House Officer, Maldakal, issued a requisition to District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) for recording the statements of victim and other girls. Having recorded the statements of the girls, it was found by the Investigating Officer that the petitioner had abused the children, which amounts to an offence under Sections 11 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for short ‘the Act of 2012’).

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that only ground on which he is seeking quashing the proceedings is that Section 11 read with Section 12 of the act of 2012 is punishable with imprisonment of a term which may extend