X v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Another; 2026 INSC 44 - POCSO Act - Bail
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POCSO Act - Bail - Mere filing of a chargesheet does not, by itself, preclude consideration of an application for bail- However, the Court is duty-bound to have due regard to the nature and gravity of the offence and the material collected during investigation- In offences involving sexual assault against children, the likelihood of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses constitutes a grave and legitimate concern. The safety of the victim and the need to preserve the purity of the trial process assume paramount importance. (Para 12-15)
Bail - Bail is not to be refused mechanically, it must not be granted on irrelevant considerations or by ignoring material evidence. (Para 16)
Summary: Supreme Court set aside the bail granted to accused in a POCSO case.
Case Info
- Case name and neutral citation: X v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Another; 2026 INSC 44.
- Coram: B.V. Nagarathna, J. and R. Mahadevan, J.
- Judgment date: January 09, 2026.
- Caselaws and citations referred:
- Deepak Yadav v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Another, (2022) 8 SCC 559.
- State of U.P. v. Sonu Kushwaha, Criminal Appeal No. 1633 of 2023 (05.07.2023).
- Ramji Lal Bairwa v. State of Rajasthan & Others, 2024 INSC 846.
- Mahipal v. Rajesh Kumar & Another, (2020) 2 SCC 118.
- Arjun Jalba Ichke v. State of Maharashtra, Criminal Appeal No. 268 of 2025 (17.01.2025).
- Bhagwan Singh v. Dilip Kumar @ Deepu @ Depak & Another, (2023) 13 SCC 549.
- Dolat Ram v. State of Haryana, (1995) 1 SCC 349.
- Kashmira Singh v. Duman Singh, (1996) 4 SCC 693.
- X v. State of Telangana, (2018) 16 SCC 511 : (2020) 1 SCC (Cri) 902.
- Satender Kumar Antil v. Central Bureau of Investigation, (2022) 10 SCC 51.
- Manish Sisodia v. Directorate of Enforcement, 2024 INSC 595.
- Padmausundara Rao (Dead) v. State of Tamil Nadu & Others, (2002) 3 SCC 533.
- State of Bihar v. Rajballav Prasad @ Rajballav Pd. Yadav @ Rajballabh Yadav, (2017) 2 SCC 178.
- Kanwar Singh Meena v. State of Rajasthan, (2012) 12 SCC 180 : (2013) 4 SCC (Cri) 614.
- Panchanan Mishra v. Digambar Mishra, (2005) 3 SCC 143 : 2005 SCC (Cri) 660.
- Statutes/laws referred:
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS): Sections 65(1), 74, 75(2), 79, 137(2), 180 (old CrPC 161), 183 (old CrPC 164), 352.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO): Sections 5(l), 6, 9(g), 10.
