Revisional Scrutiny Under PITA: Bombay High Court Affirms Conviction and Rejects Immigration Bias

sketch of the Bombay High Court
Case
RANI PRATAP SINGH v. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA (Bombay High Court, 01-10-2026)
Law
Code of Criminal Procedure, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

Highlights of the Judgment:

  • Detailed examination of offences and statutory interpretations under Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
  • Analysis of the legality of police authorization under Section 14 of the PITA regarding Special Police Officers.
  • Rejection of arguments attempting to discredit victims based on immigration status, addressing cognitive bias and victim shaming.
  • Assessment of the credibility of NGO-affiliated witnesses and decoy customers in brothel raid cases.
  • Scope of revisional jurisdiction under Sections 397 and 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure against concurrent findings of fact.