1 2025:CGHC:24464 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR ACQA No. 419 of 2024 Rakesh Kumar Lahriya S/o Late Shri Nandram Lahriya, Aged About 54 Years, R/o Q. No. 8 / C, Road No. 29, Sector 7, P.S. Sector-6, Bhilai, Tehsil and District Durg, Chhattisgarh. ... Appellant(s) versus Mahadev Panth, Aged About 45 Years, R/o Q. No. 8 /D, Road No. 12, Sector 5, P.S. Sector-6, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, Office Address- Senior Operator, Billetmil (B.B.M.), Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhilai, Tehsil And District Durg, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) (Cause Title downloaded from CIS Periphery) For Appellant : Ms. Shreya Dagga, Advocate on behalf of Mr. Mayank Kumar, Advocate For Respondent(s) : Mr. Amiyakant Tiwari and Mr. Prabhat Kumar Saxena, Advocates Hon'ble Shri Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari Order On Board 16/06/2025 SHYNA AJAY Digitally signed by SHYNA AJAY Date: 2025.06.17 13:41:39 +0530 2 1. Heard. 2. This Acquittal Appeal has been preferred against the judgment of acquittal dated 21.3.2024 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, District Durg (CG) in RCC No.3259/2018, whereby, the respondent/accused has been acquitted of the charge under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. 3. 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. 4. Counsel for the other side would not oppose the aforesaid prayer. 5. 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 30 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 3 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. 6. Registry shall return the certified copy of the judgment and relevant documents to counsel for the appellant after retaining its photocopy. 7. Registry shall send back the record to the concerned Court. 8. Accordingly, the Appeal is disposed of. Sd/- (Deepak Kumar Tiwari) Judge Shyna/Priyanka