High court did not grant bail to temple priest | News India

Prayagraj, 19 August (HS). Allahabad High Court has refused to grant bail to a priest accused of having sexual relations with a 12-year-old boy. A case was registered against the priest in Adampur Police Station, Amroha under Section 377 IPC and 3/4 POCSO Act for having unnatural sex with a 12-year-old orphan boy near a temple in February this year.

Considering the gravity of the crime and the statements of the victim as to how the accused committed the alleged act, a bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal refused to grant bail to the accused applicant, Jamuna Giri. The court said in its order, “A perusal of the statement of the victim, who is a minor of about 12 years, makes it clear that the applicant committed such an offence, which shocks the conscience of this Court. There is no reason why the victim child should make such a statement against the applicant.” The court said that according to the prosecution, the victim is a 12-year-old boy, who has already lost his parents. He had gone to see a fair and when he did not return, his uncle went to look for him and found him crying.

On being asked, the victim said that the applicant-accused took her to a temple and had unnatural sex with her. As a result, the accused applicant was arrested on February 10, 2024.

Seeking bail in the case, the accused approached the High Court. In which his lawyer argued in the court that he was falsely implicated in the present case due to village enmity. It was also argued that the informant (the child's uncle) wants him to be removed from the temple. In this way a false FIR has been lodged against him. It was also said that the injury report does not mention the offense under Section 377 IPC and no external injury was found during the investigation. Therefore it was prayed that he be released on bail.

On the other hand, the public prosecutor opposed the bail and said that the applicant has committed a serious crime. In this background, considering the gravity of the alleged crime committed by the applicant and the statement of the victim, the court did not find any prima facie reason to grant him bail.