#delay in reporting

The Punjab & Haryana High Court granted anticipatory bail under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, ruling that a ten-year delay in reporting and hospitalization during the alleged crime fatally weaken the prosecution’s case, even in grave offenses. The judgment underscores that procedural lapses can override the presumption of guilt in rape cases, reinforcing natural justice safeguards.

Bombay High Court rules that a child sexual assault victim's testimony alone can secure conviction under the POCSO Act, even if reporting is delayed. The judgment clarifies that medical evidence or corroboration is not mandatory, reinforcing the legal standard for child protection cases.

Bombay High Court upholds gang rape conviction based solely on victim's testimony, holding that delayed reporting due to fear and trauma does not invalidate prosecution case.