X v. State of MP (POCSO Bail)
Supreme Court of India2026 SCC OnLine SC 221Bench: J. Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, J. Manoj Misra
The Supreme Court held that bail in POCSO matters — particularly under Sections 5 and 6 which carry a minimum 20-year sentence — cannot be granted on the sole ground of prolonged custody. The Court must weigh: (i) the nature and gravity of the accusation, (ii) the vulnerability of the victim and risk of pressure or intimidation if the accused is released, (iii) the likelihood of the accused absconding, (iv) the stage of trial, and (v) the accused's criminal antecedents. Long custody is a relevant but not determinative factor and must be balanced against the victim protection mandate of POCSO. The High Court had applied no balancing analysis. The bail was cancelled. The trial court was directed to prioritise the trial and aim for completion within 6 months.