O R D E R

This application is filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita , 2023 (for short, BNSS ), seeking pre-arrest bail.

2. The applicant is the sole accused in Crime No.1523/2025 of Kallambalam Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram District. The offences alleged are punishable under Sections 8 read with 7, 10 read with 9(n) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act , 2012 and Section 354 (A)(1)(i), 354A(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , 2023 and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act , 2015.

3. The prosecution case, in short, is that the applicant, who is the step father of the victim, sexually assaulted her repeatedly in 2021 and 2022 and thereby committed the offences.

4. I have heard Sri. Manu Harshakumar, the learned counsel for the applicant and Sri. M.C.Ashi, the learned Senior Public Prosecutor. Perused the case diary.

5. The learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. The counsel further submitted that no materials are on record to connect the applicant with the alleged crime; hence, he is entitled to bail. The learned