Royal Challengers Bengaluru fast bowler Yash Dayal has suffered a legal setback after a POCSO court in Jaipur rejected his plea for anticipatory bail in an alleged
sexual assault case.
The decision was delivered by Judge Alka Bansal of the Jaipur Metropolitan Court, which observed that the material placed before it did not suggest that the cricketer had been falsely implicated at this stage of the investigation as reported by NDTV.
According to the court's order, the ongoing probe indicates possible involvement of the accused, making it inappropriate to grant pre-arrest protection. As a result, Dayal's request for anticipatory bail was dismissed, allowing investigators to continue their inquiry without restriction.
An FIR has been registered at the Sanganer Sadar police station in Jaipur under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The minor complainant has alleged that Dayal exploited her over a period of nearly two-and-a-half years. In her complaint, she claims the pacer lured her with assurances of helping advance her cricket career, later blackmailed her, and sexually assaulted her at multiple locations, including hotels in Jaipur and Kanpur.
Police sources have indicated that digital material recovered from the complainant's mobile phone forms a crucial part of the investigation. Chats, photographs, videos, call detail records, and hotel booking information are being examined as potential corroborative evidence under POCSO provisions.
During the hearing, Dayal's counsel, Kunal Jaiman, argued that the cricketer had never met the complainant in private and that all interactions took place in public spaces. The defence further claimed that the girl had represented herself as an adult, accepted money from Dayal citing financial hardship, and later sought additional funds. It was also contended that a related case filed in Ghaziabad was linked to an alleged extortion attempt.
Despite these submissions, the court was not persuaded. In his plea, Dayal maintained that the accusations were false and fabricated, alleging that he was being targeted by a group attempting to extort money. He described himself as a law-abiding sportsperson and assured full cooperation with the authorities.
Opposing the bail plea, government advocate Rachna Maan, appearing for the victim, told the court that the accused established physical relations by making false promises to a minor. She stressed that under the law, consent by a minor has no legal standing.
With the denial of anticipatory bail, the investigation is set to proceed further, with authorities continuing to assess the evidence collected so far.
Will Yash Dayal Play For RCB?
Dayal will remain with Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the IPL 2026 season after being retained by the franchise ahead of the auction. RCB secured his services on a ₹5 crore contract, continuing to back him as part of their bowling unit.
Although Dayal is currently dealing with a legal matter, the franchise has not removed him from the squad. That said, his participation in the tournament may depend on the outcome of the court proceedings. As a precautionary move, reports suggest RCB have also signed pacer Mangesh Yadav, who could step in if Dayal is unable to take the field.
As things stand in late December 2025, Dayal's name remains on RCB's official squad list for IPL 2026, indicating that he is still considered part of the team's plans for the upcoming season.
