CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJEEV RANJAN PRASAD and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RITESH KUMAR ORAL ORDER (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJEEV RANJAN PRASAD)

14 09-01-2026 Heard learned senior counsel for the appellant, learned counsel for the informant and learned Additional Public Prosecutor.

2. Records have been placed before this Court to consider the prayer of the appellant for suspension of the sentence and release on bail during the pendency of the appeal.

3. The appellant has been convicted vide judgment dated 14.06.2024 in connection with POCSO Case No. 14 of 2022, arising out of Mohania P.S. Case No. 27 of 2021 for the offences punishable under Sections 366 , 376(3) of the IPC and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and by order dated 19.06.2024 he has been sentenced to undergo R.I for 20 Years and to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000/- under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and in default of payment of fine, he shall further undergo R.I. for one year. For the sake of brevity, the punishment awarded under other sections are not mentioned.

4. Learned senior counsel for the appellant submits that the prosecution case is based on the written application submitt