2026:BHC-AS:9712 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 728 OF 2022 Pradip Prakash Baikar ...Appellant Versus The State of Maharashtra and Anr. ...Respondents ****

SNEHA NITIN Mr. Akshay Dingale for the Appellant.

CHAVAN Mr. Ashok Gawai APP for the Respondent/State.

Digitally signed by SNEHA NITIN Ms. Gunjan Thakkar (appointed by Legal Aid) for Respondent No.2.

CHAVAN Date: 2026.02.25 ****

18:59:32 +0530 CORAM : R.M. JOSHI, J.

RESERVED ON : 16^th FEBRUARY, 2026 PRONOUNCED ON : 25^th FEBRUARY, 2026 : JUDGMENT :

1. Appellant/convict takes exception to the judgment and order dated 07.06.2022 passed in Special Case No.16 of 2014, whereby the Appellant came to be convicted for the offences punishable under Section 376(2)(i), 506 of IPC and Section 6 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences, Act 2012 (‘POCSO’ for short), sentenced to suffer maximum sentence of imprisonment of 10 years with fine, with default sentence.

2. First informant i.e. mother of the victim lodged report to the Ghatkopar Police Station informing about the occurrence of the incident prior to 4 days of lodging of the report. According to the informant, on 2