Overview
- The bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Joymalya Bagchi upheld the trial and Karnataka High Court findings, with Justice Bagchi authoring the ruling.
- Convictions under IPC Sections 366A, 373 and 34 and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act were affirmed in KP Kirankumar @ Kiran v State by Peenya Police.
- The Court directed judges to assess trafficked minors’ testimony with sensitivity, allow conviction on a credible sole testimony, and reject stereotypes or minor inconsistencies.
- It reaffirmed that a minor’s age is ordinarily proven by school records, treating ossification tests as a fallback in line with Jarnail Singh precedent.
- Challenges to search compliance under ITPA Section 15(2) were dismissed as mere irregularities without failure of justice, citing the 2010 Peenya decoy raid, rescue and recoveries as corroboration.