IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22^ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S RACHAIAH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 415 OF 2025 (C)

BETWEEN:

SANJEEV PAUL AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS S/O JANU PAUL R/A NO.20 1ST CROSS BYAPPANAHALLI BENGALURU CITY KARNATAKA-038 …APPELLANT (BY SRI. RAKSHITH R., ADVOCATE)

AND: Digitally signed by SAMREEN AYUB

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DESHNUR Location:

HIGH BY BYAPPANAHALLI POLICE STATION COURT OF KARNATAKA RE BY SPP, HIGH COURT OF KARANATAKA, AT BANGALORE-560 001

2. RTD MAJOR BHAVAND CHIRANJAY NO.61,3^RD CROSS RAGHAVENDRA COLONY CHAMARAJAPET BENGALURU CITY KARNATAKA-018 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT.PUSHPALATHA B. ADDL. SPP FOR R1;

R2 IS SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED)

THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION

374(2) CR.PC PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION DATED 23.01.2025 AND SENTENCE DATED 23.01.2025 PASSED BY THE LEARNED ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE (FTSC-IV) AT BANGALORE IN SPL.C.C.NO.204/2017 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 376(2)(f) AND (n) OF IPC AND SEC. 5(I), 5(n) R/W SECTION 6 OF POCSO ACT, 2012 AND ACQUIT THE APPELLANT.

THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUS