High Court Offers Anticipatory Bail to DSP in Mango POCSO Case
In a notable legal turn, the Jharkhand High Court has granted anticipatory bail to DSP Ajay Kerketta, accused in the 2019 Mango Sahara City POCSO case.
JAMSHEDPUR – Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi of the Jharkhand High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Ajay Kerketta, previously a Deputy Superintendent of Police and accused in the Mango Sahara City rape case involving a minor.
This decision was reached during a court session held on Monday, marking a significant development in the case that has been ongoing since January 18, 2019.
The case initially gained attention when a minor’s mother filed a complaint under the POCSO Act, accusing several individuals, including Inderpal Singh and Shiv Kumar Mahato, of rape. The complaint highlighted a failure by the police to charge influential suspects, which led to judicial intervention.
Arrests followed for multiple individuals, including Guddu Gupta, the police station in-charge Imdad Ansari, and Kerketta. They faced charges under various sections of the law pertinent to the allegations.
In a subsequent trial, the Jamshedpur Court in 2022 sentenced three individuals—Inderpal Saini, Shivkumar Mahato, and Shrikant Mahato—to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment under the 376D Act and the POCSO Act. Each was also fined Rs 20,000. The trial for the remaining 22 accused continues, highlighting the case’s complexity and the ongoing quest for justice.
