IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.821 OF 2022 BETWEEN:

SRI VENKATARAVANA S/O NARAYANASWAMY AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS R/O KOPPAVALIPALLI VILLAGE NALAVANKI HOBLI SRINIVASAPURA TALUK KOLAR DISTRICT 563 135 ...APPELLANT (BY SRI. GIRISH R., ADV.)

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, SRINIVASAPURA CIRCLE SRINIVASAPURA TALUIK, KOLAR DISTRCT REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDINGS BENGALURU - 560 001 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. M. DIWAKAR MADDUR, HCGP)

THIS CRL.A IS FILED U/S 374(2) OF CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION AND ORDER ON SENTENCE DATED 15.02.2022 PASSED BY THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, FTSC-1 (POCSO), KOLAR IN SPL.C.(P) no.21/2020 CONVCITING THE APPELLANT/ACCUSED FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 363, 506, 324, 376(2)(N) OF IPC AND SEC.6 OF POCSO ACT.

THIS APPEAL HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR JUDGMENT ON 19.01.2026 AND COMING ON FOR "PRONOUNCEMENT OF ORDERS" THIS DAY, THE COURT, DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA CAV JUDGMENT

1. The appellant has preferred this