1 2025:CGHC:32665 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR ACQA No.139 of 2022 Pooja Ojha W/o Sheshnath Ojha, Aged About 35 Years R/o House No. 429- 430, Near Paani Tanki, Kohka Housing Board, Ward No. 8, Bhilai Nagar, P.S. Supela, Tahsil And District Durg, Chhattisgarh. ... Appellant/Complainant versus Rajesh Baraskar S/o Unknown Aged About 46 Years, R/o Quarter No. 2 B, Street No.71 Sector 6, Bhilai, P.S. Bhilai Bhatti, Tahsil And District Durg, And Temporary R/o Quarter No. 4B, Street No. 21, Sector 4, Bhilai Nagar, P.S. Bhilai Bhatti, Tahsil And District Durg, Chhattisgarh ...Respondent/Accused For Appellant : Shri Vidya Bhushan Soni, Advocate For Respondent(s) : None Single Bench: Hon'ble Shri Justic e Sanjay S. Agrawal Judgment on Board 14/07/2025 1) This appeal has been preferred by the appellant/complainant under Section 378(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, against the judgment of acquittal dated 20.12.2021 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Durg (CG) in R.C.C.No.5708/2016, whereby, the Respondent/accused has been acquitted of the charge under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881. SATISH TUMANE Digitally signed by SATISH TUMANE 2 2) At the outset, learned counsel appearing for the appellant submits that recently in the judgment dated 08/04/2025 rendered by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of M/s Celestium Financial vs. A. Gnanasekaran Etc., reported in 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. Learned Counsel for the appellant submits further that the Supreme Court in the said matter has reserved the liberty in favour of the petitioner therein to prefer an appeal in the light of the provisions of Section 372 of the Cr.P.C, and, therefore, in the instant case also, the appellant may be permitted to withdraw this appeal with liberty to prefer an appeal before the concerned Session Judge under proviso to Section 372 Cr.P.C. corresponding to Section 413 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. He further submits that the limitation may not come in the way while deciding the appeal on its merits. 3) In the light of the submissions made herein-above and considering the law declared by the Supreme Court in the said matter, this Court is inclined to permit the appellant to withdraw this appeal by granting him liberty to prefer the appeal against the impugned judgment dated 20.12.2021 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Durg (CG) in R.C.C.No.5708/2016 before the concerned 3 Sessions Judge within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Order accordingly. 4) It is clarified that if such an appeal is preferred before the concerned Session Judge 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 impugned judgment and relevant documents to counsel for the appellant after retaining the photocopy of the same and, shall remit the record to the concerned Court forthwith. 6) Accordingly, the appeal is disposed of. SD/-DSD/-/--/- (Sanjay S. Agrawal) JUDGE Tumane