IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. MP(M) No. 1959 of 2023 Reserved on: 06.11.2023 Date of Decision: 23.11.2023 Banti .... Petitioner Versus State of H.P ....Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?1 No For the Petitioner : rMr. R.S. Chandel, Advocate.

For the Respondent : Mr. Prashant Sen, Deputy Advocate General with ASI Yash Pal Singh, Investigating Officer, Police Station Kihar, District Chamba, H.P.

Rakesh Kainthla, Judge The petitioner has filed the present petition for a grant of regular bail. It has been asserted that FIR No. 90 of 2022 dated 12.09.2022 was registered against the petitioner in Police Station Kihar, District Chamba for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 363 & 376 of IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (in short ‘POCSO Act’).

2. As per the story of the prosecution, the petitioner used to visit the house of the victim. He and the victim absconded. The father of the victim filed the FIR. The petitioner

1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes.

was arrested by the police after four or five months. The victim was not recovered from