Minor’s Voluntary Travel Not Kidnapping Without Inducement, Rules Chhattisgarh High Court in POCSO Case

The Chhattisgarh High Court set aside a 20-year sentence under the POCSO Act, holding that voluntary conduct by a minor cannot automatically amount to kidnapping.

The case involved a 15-year-old who travelled with the accused across multiple cities and stayed with him for nearly a month.

The Court found no evidence of inducement or coercion, emphasizing that “taking” or “enticing” is essential to constitute kidnapping.

It ruled that mere voluntary companionship, without proof of force or deception, fails to meet the legal threshold for conviction.

[Deepak Vaishnav v. State of Chhattisgarh]