BECHU KURIAN THOMAS,J. - (1.)This is an application for regular bail filed under Sec. 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
(2.)Petitioner is the accused in Crime No.467 of 2022 of Mannar Police Station, Alapuzha District, registered for the offences punishable under Ss. 354, 354(A)(1)(i) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and also under Sec. 8 r/w Sec. 7 and Sec. 10 r/w Sec. 9 - l of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
(3.)The prosecution case is that on 26/7/2022 at about 8 p.m., the petitioner attempted to hug the defacto complainant on a public road and pressed the breast of the minor girl, aged 16 years and thereby committed the offences alleged.