IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. MP (M) No. 451 of 2026 Reserved on: 06.04.2026 Date of Decision: 21.04.2026 Rajesh Kumar ...Petitioner Versus State of Himachal Pradesh ...Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?¹ No.

For the Petitioner : Dr Nidhi Singh, Advocate.

For the Respondent : Mr Ajit Sharma, Deputy Advocate General.

Rakesh Kainthla, Judge The petitioner has filed the present petition for seeking regular bail in FIR No. 47 of 2022, dated 13.05.2022, registered for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 354, 354-D and 323 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 12 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 at Police Station Patlikuhal, District Kullu, H.P.

2. It has been asserted that the petitioner was released on bail on 08.07.2022 by the learned Special Judge-I, Kullu, District

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

Kullu, H.P. (learned Trial Court). The matter was listed before the learned Trial Court on 03.11.2025. The petitioner could not appear before the Court due to acute dysentery and fever. He could not inform his counsel about his