Jammu & Kashmir High Court - Srinagar Bench
Jonesh Verma vs Union Territory Of Jammu And Kashmir on 23 February, 2026
Author: Rahul Bharti
Bench: Rahul Bharti
Serial No. 203
Supp.1 Cause List
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH
AT SRINAGAR
CRM(M) No.65/2026
CrlM No.148/2026
Jonesh Verma ...Petitioner(s)
Through: Mr. Ashish Sharma, Advocate.
Vs.
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir ...Respondent(s)
Through Station House Officer, Police
Station Rajbagh, Srinagar
Through: Ms. Maha Majeed, assisting counsel
Mr. Mohsin Qadri, Government Advocate.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAHUL BHARTI, JUDGE
ORDER
23.02.2026
1. The petitioner is a serving official in Jammu and Kashmir Police having even served posting as Station House Officer (SHO) in one of Police Stations in UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Presently, the petitioner is serving as Inspector in Special Operation Group (SOG) DUDU, Udhampur Range.
2. The petitioner finds himself named as an accused in a Zero FIR No. 001/2026 dated 12.02.2026 registered by the Police Station Women Cell Udhampur for alleged commission of offences Page 1 of 5 under sections 342, 376 (2)(c) and 506 Indian Penal Code which Zero FIR No. 001/2026 came to be transferred to the Police Station Rajbagh, Srinagar to be re-numbered as FIR No.05/2026 dated 12.02.2026 for alleged commission of offences under sections 376 (2)(c), 506 and 342 Indian Penal Code (IPC).
3. The registration of Zero FIR No. 001/2026 by Women Cell Police Station Udhampur, is purportedly on the basis of an e-mail sent by the complainant Ms. Rakshanda Vishwanath Sonavane from her e-mail Id '[email protected]' addressed on e-mail Id '[email protected]'.
4. Long drawn narrative set out in said Zero FIR No.001/2026 reflects the address of the complainant Ms. Rakshanda Vishwanath Sonavane to be that of district Thane Maharashtra and occupation as National Coordinator NGO.
5. In her alleged e-mail complaint, said complainant refers to have come in contact with the petitioner through a friend request on Facebook in June 2023, and thereby becoming Facebook Friends. In Page 2 of 5 the complaint, it is further referred that two had meetings taking place at different parts of India which includes even Srinagar.
6. The complainant alleges that she was enticed into physical relationship with the petitioner on the promise of marriage but later on the petitioner is said to have chosen to avoid and abandoned her thereby alleging that she has become victim of alleged offences at the hands of the petitioner.
7. Finding himself confronted with the scenario of FIR coming to incriminate him, the petitioner comes up with two petitions i.e. CRM(M) No.65/2026 under section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, (BNSS), 2023 thereby seeking quashment of FIR No. 001/2026 of Police Station Women Cell Udhampur read with FIR No. 005/2026 of Police Station Rajbagh.
8. Other petition is bail application No.14/2026 whereby the petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail.
9. This Court, in terms of an order dated 20.02.2026 in CRM(M) No.65/2026, had deferred the indulgence for the purpose of seeking production Page 3 of 5 and perusal of the Case Diary File along with I.O concerned.
10.After having gone through the Case Diary File, this Court is of prima-facie view that there are salient aspects, factual as well as legal which warrants indulgence particularly the manner in which the Women Cell Police Station Udhampur came to be approached through e-mail by the complainant named Ms. Rakshanda Vishwanath Sonavane and further the manner in which the transfer of Zero FIR from Women Cell Police Station Udhampur came to take place to Police Station Rajbagh, Srinagar.
11. Prima-facie case made out.
12. Issue notice.
13. Notice accepted by Ms. Maha Majeed, Assisting counsel vice Mr. Mohsin Qadri, learned Sr.AAG on behalf of respondent No.1.
14. Notice shall go to the respondents 2 , 3 and 4.
15. Petitioner to furnish registered postal covers, whereupon notices to go to the respondents 2, 3 and 4.
Page 4 of 5
16. In the meantime, further investigation in FIR No. 001/2026 shall remain stayed. This order is, however, subject to objections from the respondents No.1.
17. Case Diary File is returned to Ms. Maha Majeed Assisting counsel to Mr. Mohsin Qadri, Sr.AAG, for being return to I.O concerned.
18. List again on 23.03.2026.
(RAHUL BHARTI) JUDGE SRINAGAR:
23.02.2026 "Opinder"Page 5 of 5