Anticipatory bail may be denied in cases involving serious sexual offences and blackmail, particularly when there is evidence that the accused has intimidated the victim or coerced them into providing a no-objection for the grant of bail.

P.C. :

1. This is an application for Anticipatory Bail.

2. The applicant is apprehending his arrest in Crime No. 618 of 2025 registered at Narpoli Police Station, for the offences punishable under Sections 64 & 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(E) of the Information Technology Act.

3. It is the case of the prosecution that in the year 2024 the present applicant had compelled the victim to accompany him and took her to one lodge. It is alleged that there he committed forcible sexual intercourse with the victim and clandestinely took her semi-nude photographs. It is alleged that the applicant thereafter started blackmailing the victim that if she refused to keep physical relations with him, then he would send her nude photographs to her husband and her relatives. It is alleged that as the victim refused to keep the relationship with him, he forwarded her semi-nude photographs to co-accused, who in turn forwarded the said semi-nude photographs to the husband of the victim.

4. I have heard the learned counsel for the applicant, the learned APP for the respondent-State and the learned counsel for the respondent No.2/victim.

5. The learned counsel for the applicant submits that with an ulterior motive, false allegations are made against the present applicant. It is submitted that the prosecution has already filed the charge-sheet against the co-accused. It is submitted that there is no need of custodial interrogation.

6. On the other hand, the learned APP for the respondent-State and the learned counsel for the respondent No.2/victim submit that after the registration of crime, the present applicant started threatening the victim and even made her give no objection for grant of anticipatory bail before the Sessions Court. It is submitted that considering the nature of crime, the applicant may not be released on anticipatory bail.

7. I have perused the first information report and the statement of the husband of the victim. It appears from the statement of the husband of the victim that the co-accused in the present crime had sent semi-nude photographs of the victim to him. During the course of investigation, it was found that the said semi-nude photographs were taken by the present applicant. It appears from the statement of the victim dated 06.10.2025 that the present applicant had even pressurised her to give no objection for grant of anticipatory bail. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, I am not inclined to release the applicant on anticipatory bail. The application is rejected.