ORDER :

This Criminal Petition under Sections 437 and 439 of Code of Criminal Procedure (for short ‘Cr.P.C.’), has been filed by the petitioner/Accused, seeking regular bail in Crime No.12 of 2024 of T.P.Gudur Police Station, S.P.S.R. Nellore District, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 366, 344, 376(3) I.P.C., Section 4 r/w.3(a) of POCSO Act, 2012.

2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, the victim girl who is aged about 16 years studying intermediate 1st year is the daughter of defacto complainant. On 27.01.2024 at about 6.30 P.M. the defacto complainant noticed missing of her daughter/victim girl, searched for victim girl at the surroundings and at the houses of their relatives but could not find victim girl. Then, the defacto complainant gave report to the police and a girl missing case was registered. Basing on the statement of victim girl, a case was registered against the accused.

3. Heard Ellapa Manoj Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri P.M.Mithileswara Reddy, learned Special Assistant Public Prosecutor.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has been in judicial custody since 27.01.2024. Initially, the case has bee