State of West Bengal vs Firoj — 11/2025

Court Decision Summary The Additional Sessions Judge of the POCSO Special Court, Islampur (West Bengal) acquitted all three accused—Firoz, Salauddin, and Ajahar Ali—of sexual assault charges under Section 8 of the POCSO Act, 2012. The court found that the prosecution failed to prove its case by preponderance of probability, citing significant contradictions between the victim's written complaint and her substantive testimony, inadequate corroboration by independent witnesses, and hearsay evidence. The judge emphasized that while Section 29 of POCSO Act imposes a reverse burden on the accused, the prosecution must first establish a prima facie case through reliable evidence before this burden shifts. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.