1 2025:CGHC:40701 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR ACQA No. 746 of 2019 Uttam Mandal S/o Shri Premchand Mandal Aged About 33 Years R/o Village Gondahur Colony, Police Station Gondahur, District Uttar Bastar Kanker, Chhattisgarh., District : Kanker, Chhattisgarh ... Appellant. versus Govind Badhai S/o Ganesh Chandra Badhai Aged About 32 Years R/o Village P.V. 72, Chandanpur, Police Station Pakhanjore, District Uttar Bastar Kanker, Chhattisgarh., District : Kanker, Chhattisgarh ... Respondent. For Appellant : Mr. Parag Kotecha. Advocate. For Respondent : Mr. Maneesh Kumar Sahu, Adv on behalf Mr. Awadh Tripath, Advocate. SB : Hon'ble Shri Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari Judgment on Board 13.08.2025 1. The appellant has filed this acquittal appeal against the judgment of acquittal dated 21.08.2019 passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Pankhajore, District Uttar Bastar Kanker (CG) in Complaint Case No.308/2018, whereby, the respondent/accused has been acquitted of the charge under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (for short, “the NI Act”). 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, Digitally signed by AJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI DN: cn=AJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI, ou=HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, o=HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, st=CHATTISGARH, c=IN Date: 2025.08.13 16:52:35 +0530 2 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 case may be disposed of reserving liberty so as to avail the said remedy. 3. Learned counsel for the respondent 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 the date of 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. 5. Registry shall return the certified copy of the order/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 Ajay