Ahmedabad court denies bail to 21-year-old accused of sodomising 12-year-old boy

A POCSO Court in Ahmedabad has rejected the regular bail application of 21-year-old Badal Dantaniya, accused of committing unnatural sex with a 12-year-old minor boy in the Shahpur locality of Ahmedabad.

The court observed that prima facie, the accused committed the serious offence despite being fully aware that the victim was a minor. Noting that the investigation is still at a preliminary stage and the charge-sheet is yet to be filed, the court held that releasing the accused on bail could lead to tampering with evidence, hampering the investigation, or influencing witnesses.

The victim and the original complainant appeared before the court and strongly opposed the bail plea, urging its dismissal.

Defence counsel for the accused argued that there was no video of the incident made by the applicant, nor was any such material made viral by him. The accused has no prior criminal history, is a resident of Ahmedabad, and his presence can be easily secured. Counsel further contended that prolonged detention without bail would amount to pre-trial conviction, damage the accused's reputation, and that he would fully cooperate with the proceedings. They requested his release on regular bail.

However, the court rejected these submissions, emphasising the gravity of the offence.

According to the prosecution, on December 10, 2025, the accused allegedly used threats to force the minor victim into unnatural sex against his will. He also reportedly beat the victim, issued threats, compelled him to record an obscene video of the act, and made it viral on social media.

An FIR was registered at Madhavpura Police Station under sections 140(4), 351(2), and 115(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — corresponding to aggravated forms of kidnapping/abduction with intent to subject to unnatural lust, criminal intimidation, and voluntarily causing hurt — along with various sections of POCSO Act, 2012 and Information Technology Act.