IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL BAIL APPLICATION NO. 4553 OF 2024 Nirbhay Satish More ...Applicant Versus The State of Maharashtra And Anr. ...Respondents ….

Mr. Kuldeep Nikam a/w Ms. Nishi Singhvi, Advocate for the Applicant.

Ms. Vilasini Balsubramanian, Advocate for the Respondent No.2.

Mr. Tanveer Khan, A.P.P. for the Respondent No.1 – State.

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CORAM : N. R. BORKAR, J. DATE : 5^th MARCH, 2025 P.C . :

1. This is an application for regular bail.

2. The applicant came to be arrested in Crime No. 177 of 2024 registered at M.I.D.C. Kupwad Police Station, District : Sangli, for the offences punishable under Sections 376, 376(2) (n), 376(3) of the Indian Penal Code (for short “IPC”) and Sections 4, 5(L), 6 & 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

3. According to the prosecution, though the applicant was aware that the victim is minor, he subjected her to sexual intercourse on the pretext that he would be marrying her.

4. I have heard the learned counsel for the applicant, learned A.P.P. for the Respondent No.1-State and learned counsel for the Respondent No.2/victim.

5. The learned counsel for the applicant submits that