A special POCSO court in Jaipur on Wednesday rejected the cricketer's anticipatory bail plea. Yash Dayal In a case involving an allegation of rape of a minor, considering that protection from arrest is not required at this stage due to the seriousness of the allegations.
Judge Alka Bansal of Special POCSO Court No. 3 said that considering the statement of the victim, the available evidence and the overall circumstances of the case, it would be inappropriate to grant pre-arrest bail. The court emphasized that cases involving minors require utmost care and sensitivity during investigation.
This matter has come to light from a complaint lodged by a girl from Jaipur at Sanganer Sadar Police Station. She alleged that Dayal sexually exploited her for a long period of time by promising to help her pursue a cricket career. According to the complaint, the accused introduced himself as an influential cricketer, influenced her emotionally and assured her of cricket-related opportunities and support in the future.
The complainant further stated that the alleged offenses took place when she was a minor. She claimed that when she later confronted the accused, she was threatened and attempts were made to break off contact with him, following which she approached the police and lodged a formal complaint.
During the hearing, the accused's lawyer argued that the allegations were false and argued that the relationship was consensual. The defense also said that Dayal is a professional cricketer of good reputation and is ready to cooperate fully in the investigation.
Opposing the petition, the special public prosecutor and the counsel for the complainant argued that anticipatory bail should not be granted in a case involving a minor. Advocate Devesh Sharma, representing the victim, said that in cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, consent has no legal relevance and prima facie evidence supports the allegations.
After hearing both the sides, the court said that anticipatory bail is a discretionary relief and not a matter of right. It said that in cases involving serious allegations against minors, the possibility of the investigation being affected or affected should be kept in mind.
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore's decision to retain Dayal for the Indian Premier League 2026 season has drawn criticism, with questions being raised over the franchise's stance as the player is facing two serious criminal cases, including a case under the POCSO Act. RCB retained Dayal, who was bought for ₹5 crore last year, among the 17 players named before the November 15 deadline.
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