1 2025:CGHC:44778 HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR ACQA No. 84 of 2024 Shashank Bajpai Propritor S. S. Finance and Insurance S/o - Anil Bajpai Aged About 33 Years R/o- Opposite City Kotwali, Bemetara, District : Bemetara, Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner versus Subhanshu Shukla S/o Ramakant Shukla Aged About 32 Years R/o Shivaji Ward, Raipur Road, Shukla Aara Mill, Mungeli Tehsil And District- Mungeli, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent For the appellant : Mr. Krishna Tandon, Advocate For the respondent : Mr. Rajendra Patel, Advocate (Hon’ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) (Order on Board) 02.09.2025 1. This acquittal appeal U/s 419(4) of BNSS has been filed against the judgment dated 12.07.2023 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Bemetara (C.G.) in Complaint Case No. 2045/2021 whereby the complaint u/s 138 of Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 filed by the complainant has been dismissed, which has effect of acquittal of the respondent. 2. At the outset, learned counsel for the appellant submits that recently 2 the Supreme Court has rendered the decision in M/s. Celestium Financial Vs. A. Gnanasekaran Etc. reported in 2025 INSC 804 holding that the complainant in a complaint filed under section 138 of the Act of 1881 is also a victim as defined in section 2(wa) of Cr.P.C. corresponding to Section 2(y) of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short the “BNSS”). He submits that the Supreme Court has further held that the complainant in a complaint under section 138 of the Act of 1881 can also be entitled to file an appeal under proviso to section 372 Cr.P.C. corresponding to Section 413 of the BNSS. Learned counsel submits that the case may be disposed of reserving liberty so as to avail the said remedy of appeal. 3. In view of the aforesaid submission and considering the law declared in the matter of Celestium Financial (supra), this Appeal stands disposed of reserving liberty in favour of the appellant to file an appeal within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of a copy this order before the appropriate Court, in accordance with law. It is further made clear that if such an appeal is filed before the concerned Court within the time given by this Court, it would not insist upon the limitation while deciding the same and will proceed to decide the same in accordance with law. 4. Registry shall return the certified copy of the impugned judgment/order and relevant documents to counsel for the appellant after retaining the photocopy of the same. 5. Registry shall send back the record to the concerned Court. Sd/- (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal) Judge Rao