Rajesh vs State

ik-10757165 Delhi High Court 23 February 2026 • 14 min read

Judges (1)

Counsel (13)

Adrian Abbi Counsel Respondent Aishwarya Rao Counsel Appellant Gayatri Nandwani Counsel Respondent Himanshu Anand Gupta Counsel Respondent M. Desai Counsel Respondent Mansi Rao Counsel Appellant Mansi Yadav Counsel Respondent Mudita Sharda Counsel Respondent Navneet Kaur Counsel Respondent Shekhar Anand Gupta Counsel Respondent Shivani Rampal Counsel Respondent Sidharth Barua Counsel Respondent Utkarsh Counsel Respondent

Parties (2)

State Respondent Rajesh Appellant

Case Significance

Rajesh vs State is a Delhi High Court decision dated February 23, 2026 (citation: ik-10757165). The appellant, a father convicted under Section 6 of the POCSO Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault on his own minor daughter during 2016-2017, challenged his conviction and 15-year sentence. The Delhi High Court confirmed the conviction but modified the sentence from 15 years to 14 years rigorous imprisonment, noting that the trial court could not have imposed a sentence exceeding the minimum of 10 years as per the Supreme Court's dictum in Ravinder Singh, though the minimum was ins The case was heard by Justice Chandrasekharan Sudha.

Summary

The appellant, a father convicted under Section 6 of the POCSO Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault on his own minor daughter during 2016-2017, challenged his conviction and 15-year sentence. The Delhi High Court confirmed the conviction but modified the sentence from 15 years to 14 years rigorous imprisonment, noting that the trial court could not have imposed a sentence exceeding the minimum of 10 years as per the Supreme Court's dictum in Ravinder Singh, though the minimum was insufficient given the gravity of paternal abuse.

What was the outcome of Rajesh vs State?

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official India Courts portal.

Read on Indian Kanoon

Source: Indian Kanoon (ik-10757165)