Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
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2025:CGHC:38520
NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR ACQA No. 190 of 2019 1 - Jaiprakash Agrawal S/o Govind Agrawal Aged About 65 Years R/o Ganjline, District Rajnandgaon Chhattisgarh. (complainant)
...Appellant. versus 1 - Samir Lalani S/o Sadrudin Lalani Aged About 52 Years R/o Baldeobagh, District Rajnandgaon Chhattisgarh. (accused)
... Respondent(s) For Appellant : Shri Parag Kotecha, Advocate. For Respondent(s) : Ms. Smita Jha, Advocate.
Hon'ble Shri Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari
Judgment On Board 04/08/2025
1. This acquittal appeal has been filed against the judgment dated 07.01.2019 passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class, Rajnandgaon in Complaint Case No.1233/2018 whereby, respondent/accused was 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 AVINASH SHARMA Digitally signed by AVINASH SHARMA Date: 2025.08.05 10:58:55 +0530
2 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 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 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 impugned judgment/order and relevant documents to counsel for the appellant after retaining the photocopy of the same.
6. Registry shall send back the record to the concerned Court.
7. Accordingly, this appeal is disposed of. Sd/-
(Deepak Kumar Tiwari) Judge Avinash