ORDER

This bail application is filed under section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita , 2023 (for short ‘ BNSS ’).

2. Petitioner is the sole accused in Crime No.186 of 2025 of Vellarada Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 127 (2), 75(2), 68(a), 65(2), 64(2)(f), 64(2)(i) and 64(2)(m) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , 2023, Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act , 2015 and Sections 10 , 9(1), 9(p), 6(1), 5(i), 5(m) and 5(p) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act , 2012.

3. According to the prosecution, the accused, who is the stepfather of the minor victim, presently aged 10 years, had, from the year 2023 onwards, committed penetrative sexual assault on her till 20.01.2025, after threatening to confine her to a dark room if she revealed the incident to anyone and thereby committed the offences alleged. Petitioner was arrested on 09.02.2025 and he has been in custody since then.

4. Heard Sri.K. Mohammed Rafeeq, the learned Counsel for the petitioner as well as Sri. Prasanth M.P., the learned Public Prosecutor.

5. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the