1 2025:CGHC:46469 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR ACQA No. 4 of 2020 1 - J. S. Bhatia S/o Late Shri Bhagwan Das Bhatia Aged (now) 56 Years R/o House No. 23/126, Opposite Ashok Bhavan, Near Jaggannath Mandir, Lalita Chouck, Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh ... Appellant versus 1 - Vicky Auto-Mobiles Through Proprietor, Niraj Arora, S/o Shri Kishan Kumar Arora. Addressed At Anand Talkies Road, Vishwas Parisar, Hotel Sagar Building, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh 2 - Niraj Arora S/o Shri Kishan Kumar Arora, Addressed At Anand Talkies Road, Vishwas Parisar, Hotel Sagar Building, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh ... Respondents For Appellant : Ms. Anamika Jain, Advocate appears on behalf of Mr. Devershi Thakur, Advocate For Respondents : None Hon'ble Shri Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari PRIYANKA VERMA Digitally signed by PRIYANKA VERMA Date: 2025.09.11 14:45:47 +0530 2 Judgment On Board 11/09/2025 1. This Acquittal Appeal has been preferred under Section 378(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 against the judgment dated 18.10.2019 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Raipur (C.G.) in Criminal Complaint Case No.999/13, whereby, the respondent/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. Learned counsel submits that the Appeal may be disposed of reserving liberty so as to avail the said remedy. 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 45 days from 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 3 proceed to decide the same in accordance with law. 4. Registry shall return the certified copy of the impugned judgment and relevant documents to counsel for the appellant after retaining its photocopy. 5. Registry shall send back the record to the concerned Court. 6. Accordingly, the Appeal is disposed of. Sd/- (Deepak Kumar Tiwari) Judge Shyna/Priyanka