1 2025:CGHC:37138 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR ACQA No. 162 of 2020 1 - Ajay Shukla S/o Shri Sudama Prasad Shukla, Aged About 45 Years R/o Grin Park Colony Jarhabhata PS Civil Line Bilaspur District Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) ... Appellant versus 1 - Pragendra Das Manikpuri S/o Bisahu Das Manikpuri, Aged About 42 Years R/o House No. 144 Limpara, Village Bharari, Takhatpur, PS Takhatpur District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh 2 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through District Magistrate Bilaspur District Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) ... Respondents For Appellant : Mr. Vijay Shankar Mishra, Advocate appears on behalf of Mr. Dheerendra Pandey, Advocate For Respondent No.2/State : Mr. S.K. Puria, PL PRIYANKA VERMA Digitally signed by PRIYANKA VERMA Date: 2025.07.30 16:14:06 +0530 2 Hon'ble Shri Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari Judgment On Board 30/07/2025 1. This Acquittal Appeal has been preferred under Section 378(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 against the judgment dated 07.08.2018 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Bilaspur in Complaint Case No.2386/2016, whereby, respondent No.1/accused has been acquitted of the charge under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. 2. At the outset, learned counsel for the appellant submits that recently in the judgment dated 08.04.2025 rendered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Celestium Financial vs. A. Gnanasekaran Etc., 2025 INSC 804, right to file appeal under proviso to Section 372 Cr.P.C. was discussed and it was held that the victim shall have a right to prefer an appeal against any order passed by the Court acquitting the accused and such appeal shall lie to the Court to which an appeal ordinarily lies against the order of conviction of such Court. He submits that the Appeal may be disposed of reserving liberty so as to avail the said remedy. 3. Counsel for the other side would not oppose the aforesaid prayer. 4. 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 45 days from this order before the appropriate Court, in 3 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. 5. Registry shall return the certified copy of the judgment and relevant documents to counsel for the appellant after retaining its photocopy. 6. Registry shall send back the record to the concerned Court. 7. Accordingly, the Appeal is disposed of. Sd/- (Deepak Kumar Tiwari) Judge Priyanka