- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17985 CRL.A No. 100535 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.RACHAIAH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 100535 OF 2024 (A-) BETWEEN: M/S JINAGOUDRA MACHINE TOOLS PVT. LTD., REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR SRI. SWAGAT S/O APPASAHEB JINAGOUDA, AGE. 39 YEARS, OCC: BUSINESS, R/O. 170/2, JOT SOCIETY, JYOTIBHA PHULE ROAD, DADAR (EAST) MUMBAI, PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS AT SATTUR, DHARWAD, PIN. 580009. …APPELLANT (BY SRI. SHIVAPRASAD S. PATIL, AND SRI. S.B. KULKARNI, ADVOCATES) AND: 1. M/S R.K. EICHER TRACTORS R/O. OM SHIV COMPLEX, BELLARY ROAD, CHALLAKERE TQ. CHALLAKERE, DIST. CHITRADURGA, PIN. 577522. 2. SRI. YASEEN ABDULA RASHI SAB, PARTNER, Digitally signed by SAMREEN AYUB DESHNUR Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17985 CRL.A No. 100535 of 2024 M/S R.K. EICHER TRACTORS, AGE. 34 YEARS, OCC. BUSINESS R/O. 24, 19 NE VARDA, CHALLAKERE, TQ. CHALLAKERE, DIST. CHITRADURGA, PIN. 577522. 3. SRI. MOHAMED RASOOL ABDUL SATHAR SAB PARTNER, M/S R.K. EICHER TRACTORS, AGE. 45 YEARS, OCC. BUSINESS, R/O. 173(3), RAHIMNAGARA AND DODDERIKAPILEGALU, TQ. CHALLAKERE, DIST. CHITRADURGA, PIN. 577522. …RESPONDENTS THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED U/SEC. 378(4) OF CR.P.C. (U/SEC. 419(4) OF BNSS ACT SEEKING TO SET ASIDE THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER DATED 17.08.2024 PASSED BY THE III ADDL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND CJM DHARWAD C.C.NO. 1817/2022 AND TO CONVICT THE RESPONDENTS/ACCUSED NO. 1 TO 3 FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/SEC. 138 OF NI ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW AND CALL FOR ENTIRE RECORDS IN C.C.NO 1817/2022 (P.C.NO 452/2019) ON THE FILE OF THE III ADDL. SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND CJM DHARWAD AND DIRECT PAYMENT OF CHEQUE AMOUNT AND THE FINE AMOUNT TO THE APPELLANT/COMPLAINANT IN THE EVENT OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCE OF THE RESPONDENTS/ACCUSED NO. 1 TO 3 AND ETC. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17985 CRL.A No. 100535 of 2024 ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.RACHAIAH) 1. This appeal is filed by the appellant/complainant being aggrieved by the judgment of acquittal passed by the Trial Court. 2. However, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Celestium Financial Vs. A. Gnanasekaran Etc.1, held in paragraph No.10 as under: “10. As already noted, the proviso to Section 372 of the CrPC was inserted in the statute book only with effect from 31.12.2009. The object and reason for such insertion must be realised and must be given its full effect to by a court. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we hold that the victim of an offence has the right to prefer an appeal under the proviso to Section 372 of the CrPC, irrespective of whether he is a complainant or not. Even if the victim of an offence is a complainant, he can still proceed under the proviso to Section 372 and need not advert 1 2025 SCC Online SC 1320 - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17985 CRL.A No. 100535 of 2024 to sub-section (4) of Section 378 of the Cr.PC.” 3. On careful reading of the judgment of the Apex Court supra, it is evident that, the complainant being victim has to file an appeal against the order of acquittal before the Jurisdictional Sessions Court by invoking Section 372 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. 4. In view of the law laid down by the Apex Court, in Celestial supra, the appeal by the complainant against the order of acquittal is not maintainable before this Court. Since this Court has no jurisdiction to decide the appeal on merit, the appeal is transferred to jurisdictional Appellate Court/Sessions Court. 5. The parties shall appear before the jurisdictional Appellate Court / Sessions Court on 27.01.2026, without further notice of the concerned Court. 6. The Registry shall transmit entire appeal papers including appeal memo to the jurisdictional Sessions Court. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17985 CRL.A No. 100535 of 2024 7. The learned counsel for the appellant shall have the liberty to carry out the amendment in the cause title and also the provisions thereof. 8. For statistical purpose, this appeal stands disposed off. 9. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (S.RACHAIAH) JUDGE PJ List No.: 3 Sl No.: 57