Mumbai: A leading law firm has terminated one of its partners with immediate effect after he was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for the alleged repeated sexual assault of his six-year-old daughter.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on 02.02.2026 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act after the mother of the child filed a complaint against her husband. The mother alleged that the accused had repeatedly subjected their six-year-old daughter to sexual assault whenever the child was alone with him. She further alleged in the FIR that the police registered the complaint only after the intervention of the National Commission for Women. The FIR also refers to the alleged recovery of a pen drive containing explicit material purportedly recorded by the accused over several years.
The accused approached a Special POCSO Court in Mumbai seeking anticipatory bail. The child’s mother opposed the plea, arguing that the accused, being both a legal practitioner and the child’s father, could misuse his position to influence witnesses or derail the process of law. She further submitted that the victim was too young to comprehend the gravity of the alleged acts committed against her.
On 16.03.2026, the Special POCSO Court granted anticipatory bail, observing that the investigation could proceed without taking the accused into custody. The court noted that since the registration of the FIR, the police had sufficient opportunity to investigate without arresting the accused, and that the investigating officer had neither sought custodial interrogation nor insisted on custody, instead issuing notices to secure his presence. The court further observed that any medical examination of the accused could be conducted without placing him in custody. It also took note of the underlying matrimonial disputes between the spouses, observing that the issue would be examined during trial.
While granting anticipatory bail, the court imposed conditions restraining the accused from contacting or pressuring the victim, the complainant, or any prosecution witnesses, and from issuing threats or inducements. He was also directed to cooperate with the investigation and not leave India without prior permission of the court.
An appeal challenging the anticipatory bail order, filed by the mother of the child through Advocate Ranjeet Sangle, is expected to come up for hearing before the Bombay High Court. Following the registration of the FIR and the proceedings before the Special Court, the law firm terminated the accused partner’s services with immediate effect.
Case Details:
- Court: Special POCSO Court, Mumbai
- Date of Anticipatory Bail Order: 16.03.2026
- Date of FIR: 02.02.2026
- Appearances: Advocate Ranjeet Sangle for the complainant (mother of the child)
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