[2026:RJ-JP:24959-DB] HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 371/2024 URN: CRLAD / 631U / 2024 Amritilal S/o Late shri ramdhan Prajapat, aged about 40 years, Resident of Village Chainpur, Police Station- Masalpur, District, Karauli. ----Complainant-Appellant Versus 1. State of Rajasthan, Through Public Prosecutor 2. Birbal S/o Somwarya adopted son of Shibu, 3. Lajjaram S/o Somwarya, 4. Bhantu alias Mantu S/o Somwarya, All resident of Chainpur, Police Station- Masalpur, District- Karauli ----Accused-Respondents For Appellant(s) : Mr. J.P. Goyal, Sr. Adv. assisted by Ms. Jyoti Swami, Adv. For Respondent(s) : Mr. Rajesh Choudhary, Government Advocate-cum-Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr. Aman Kumar and Ms. Neha Goyal, Adv. HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE INDERJEET SINGH HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BHUWAN GOYAL Judgment 1. Date of conclusion of arguments : 03/07/2026 2. Date on which the judgment was reserved : 03/07/2026 3. Whether the full judgment or only the Full judgment operative part is pronounced : 4. Date of pronouncement : 08/07/2026 (PER HON'BLE BHUWAN GOYAL, J.) 1. vihykFkhZ&ifjoknh ve`r yky }kjk gLrxr vihy varxZr /kkjk 413 ch,u,l,l ds rgr fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky;& vij ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] djkSyh ¼jkt0½ }kjk ls'ku izdj.k ¼lh-vkbZ-,l-½ la[;k 143@2022] muokuh izdj.k jktLFkku jkT; cuke chjcy oxS- esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 11&09&2024 ftlds }kjk izR;FkhZx.k& [2026:RJ-JP:24959-DB] (2 of 9) [CRLAD-371/2024] vfHk;qDrx.k chjcy] yTtkjke o HkUrw mQZ eUrw dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 447] 302@34 Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk ds vkjksiksa ls nks"keqDr fd;k x;k gS] ds fo:) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 2. çdj.k ds rF; la{ksi esa bl çdkj gSa fd fnukad 13&08&2022 dks ifjoknh ve`r ¼xokg ih-M-&17½ }kjk ,d rgjhjh fjiksVZ ¼izn'kZ ih&25½ Fkkukf/kdkjh] iqfyl Fkkuk eklyiqj] ftyk djkSyh ds le{k bl vk'k; dh izLrqr dh xbZ fd mlds firkth jke/ku dy lqcg djhc 9%00 cts vius ?kj ls [kkus dk fVfQu ysdj vius [ksr ij j[kokyh djus x, rks le; djhc 1%30 cts [ksr ds iM+ksl esa jgus okyh [kVhd lekt dh fiz;adk dh ekrk us dgk fd mlds firkth dks fdlh us ekj fn;kA tc ifjtuksa us tkudkjh dh rks iqfyl eklyiqj muds firkth dks djkSyh vLirky ys vkbZ] rc os le; 4%30 cts ds djhc djkSyh vLirky vk, rks firkth dks t;iqj jSQj dj fn;k vkSj xaxkiqj eksM ds ikl ekSr gks xbZ] mlds firkth dk iksLVekVZe ,oa ftu yksxksa us ekjk gS] muds f[kykQ 'kh?kz dkuwuh dk;Zokgh djsaA mUgsa ?kVuk dh dksbZ tkudkjh ugha gS] fdu yksxksa us ekjk gS] mUgsa irk ugha gS---------bR;kfnA 3. mDr rgjhjh fjiksVZ ¼izn'kZ ih&25½ ds vk/kkj ij iqfyl Fkkuk eklyiqj] ftyk&djkSyh }kjk izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ la[;k 183@2022 vUrxZr /kkjk 447] 302 Hkk-na-la- esa ntZ dj vuqla/kku izkjaHk fd;k x;k] ckn vuqla/kku vfHk;qDrx.k chjcy] yTtkjke o HkUrw ds fo:) vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 302] 447] 34 Hkk-na-la- esa vkjksi i= U;k;ky; vfrfjDr flfoy U;k;k/kh'k ,oa U;kf;d eftLVªsV] djkSyh ds le{k izLrqr fd;k x;k] ftl ij fo}ku U;k;ky; }kjk vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo#) izlaKku fy;k tkdj] izdj.k ntZ jftLVj fd;k x;k ,oa ekeyk ftyk ,oa ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] djkSyh }kjk fopkj.kh; gksus ls izdj.k ftyk ,oa ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] djkSyh dks mikfiZr fd;k x;k] tgka ls mDr izdj.k fof/kor lquokbZ gsrq fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky;&vij ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] djkSyh ¼jkt-½ dks varfjr fd;k x;kA [2026:RJ-JP:24959-DB] (3 of 9) [CRLAD-371/2024] 4. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk cgl pktZ lqudj izR;FkhZx.k& vfHk;qDrx.k dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 447] 302@34 Hkk-na-la- esa n.Muh; vijk/kksa ds vkjksi i`Fkd&i`Fkd fojfpr dj mUgsa lquk, o le>k, rks izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k us vkjksi vLohdkj dj vUoh{kk pkgh] ftl ij vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls ekSf[kd lk{; esa xokgku ih-MCY;w-&1 yxk;r ih-MCY;w-&18 ds c;ku ys[kc) djok;s ,oa ekSf[kd lk{; ds leFkZu esa nLrkostkr izn'kZ ih&1 yxk;r izn'kZ ih&27 ,oa U;k;ky; dh vksj ls nLrkost izn'kZ lh&1 yxk;r izn'kZ lh&3 is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;s x;sA 5. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr~ izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k dks /kkjk 313 na-iz-la- ds rgr ijhf{kr fd;k x;k] ftlesa izR;FkhZx.k& vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk vfHk;kstu lk{; dks xyr gksuk crkrs gq, mudk funksZ"k gksdj mUgsa izdj.k esa >waBk Qalk;k tkuk ,oa lk{; lQkbZ is'k ugha djuk tkfgj dj nLrkosth lk{; esa nLrkostkr~ izn'kZ Mh&1 yxk;r izn'kZ Mh&4 dks is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;k x;kA 6. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr mHk;i{kksa dks lquk tkdj vius fu.kZ; fnukad 11&09&2024 }kjk vfHk;qDrx.k chjcy] yTtkjke o HkUrw mQZ eUrw dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 447] 302@34 Hkk-na-l-a ds vkjksiksa ls nks"keqDr fd;k x;k] ftlls O;fFkr gksdj izLrqr vihy vihykFkhZ&ifjoknh ds }kjk] izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k chjcy] yTtkjke o HkUrw mQZ eUrw dks ryc dj mUgsa mDr vkjksfir vijk/kkas esa nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr djus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 7. fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ&ifjoknh dk dFku gS fd i=koyh ij izLrqr ekSf[kd ,oa nLrkosth lk{; ls izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo#) vkjksfir vijk/k dh iw.kZ :i ls iqf"V gqbZ gS] muls izdj.k esa iz;qDr ykfB;k¡ ,oa dqYgkMh cjken gqbZ gS] fdarq fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;k;y us vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk izLrqr] lk{; ij lw{erk ls ,oa xgurk ls voyksdu fd, fcuk] vius vkykSP; vkns'k fnukad 11&09&2024 }kjk izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k dks muds fo#) vkjksfir vijk/kksa esa nks"keqDr ?kksf"kr fd;k x;k gS] ftlls mDr vkykSP; vkns'k [2026:RJ-JP:24959-DB] (4 of 9) [CRLAD-371/2024] fof/klEer ugha gksus ls vikLr fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA vr% vihy] vihykFkhZ&ifjoknh Lohdkj djrs gq, izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k dks ryc dj mUgsa muds fo#) vkjksfir vijk/kksa esa nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr fd;k tkosA 8. fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd us mfpr vkns'k ikfjr fd, tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA 9. cgl xzg.kkFkZ lquh tkdj vihyh; i=koyh dk e; vfHkys[k lEekuiwoZd voyksdu fd;k ,oa mHk;i{k ds rdksZa ij xaHkhjrkiwoZd euu fd;kA gLrxr izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu i{k dk ;g dsl jgk gS fd fnukad 12&08&2022 dks fnu esa 9%00 ,-,e- ls 1%30 ih-,e ds e/; fdlh le; ifjoknh ve`r yky dh pSuiqj VVokbZ ds gkj esa fLFkr dCts'kqnk Hkwfe esa izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk vukf/kd`r izos'k dj] jke/ku ds lkFk ykBh] dqYgkM+h o MaMksa ls ekjihV dj mldh e`R;q dkfjr dh ! 10. gLrxr izdj.k esa mijksDr vfHk;kstu dgkuh ds lanHkZ esa i=koyh ij izLrqr lk{; dk ;fn voyksdu djsa rks izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr xokg ih-M-&17 ve`r yky us viuh eq[; ijh{kk esa ;g dFku fd;k gS fd fnukad 12&08&2022 dks lqcg 09%00 cts mlds firk [ksr ij j[kokyh djus gsrq fVfQu ysdj x;s Fks] mls fiz;adk o 'kkjnk us mlds firk dks yTtkjke] HkUrq o chjcy }kjk ekjus dh ckr mlds ?kj vkdj crkbZ Fkh] mls irk pyk rks og Hkh x;kA mlds firkth dks iqfylokys djkSyh vLirky yk;s Fks fQj mUgsa t;iqj jSQj dj fn;k mlds ckn t;iqj ys tkrs oDr mldh ekSr gks x;hA ftlls mldk ?kVuk dk p'enhn lk{kh uk gksdj vuqJqr lk{kh ,oa mls ?kVuk dh tkudkjh fiz;adk ,oa 'kkjnk }kjk mlds ?kj vkdj nsuk izdV gksrk gS] oSls xokg dk fiz;adk ,oa 'kkjnk }kjk mls ?kj vkdj izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk mlds firkth dks ekjus dh tkudkjh nsus ckcr dFku Hkh vk¶Vj FkksV gksuk izdV gksrk [2026:RJ-JP:24959-DB] (5 of 9) [CRLAD-371/2024] gS] D;ksafd mDr rF; mlds }kjk ntZ djkbZ xbZ izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ izn'kZ ih-&25 esa mlds }kjk vafdr ugha fd;k x;k gSA gekjh fouez jk; esa ;fn mls fiz;adk ,oa 'kkjnk }kjk mlds firk ds lkFk gqbZ ?kVuk ds lUnHkZ esa ?kVuk ds fnu lwpuk nh xbZ gksrh rks mlds }kjk ?kVuk ds vxys fnu ntZ djokbZ xbZ fjiksVZ esa yTtkjke] HkUrq o chjcy dk uke vo'; fy[kk tkrk] mlesa ?kVuk dh tkudkjh ,oa mUgsa fdlus ekjk irk ugha gksuk vafdr ugha djok;k tkrkA 11. gLrxr izdj.k esa ;fn xokg ih-M-&7 fiz;adk o xokg ih-M-&8 'kkjnk ftuds }kjk ifjoknh ve`r yky dks ?kVuk dh tkudkjh nsuk crk;k gS mudh lk{; dk voyksdu djsa rks xokg ih-M-&7 fiz;adk us viuh eq[; ijh{kk esa fnukad 12&08&2022 dks mlds ikl mldh lgsyh Hkkouk dk Qksu vkuk mlds }kjk mls fdlh O;fDr }kjk jke/ku ds lkFk ekjihV dh ckr crkuk] fQj mlds }kjk mDr ckr mldh ek¡ 'kkjnk dks crkuk ,oa fQj 'kkjnk }kjk muds ?kj tkdj crkuk dFku fd;k gS] xokg ih-M-&8 'kkjnk us Hkh vius c;kuksa esa mldh csVh ds ikl VVokbZ dh yM+dh dk Qksu vkuk vkSj dguk fd jke/ku ds ?kj tkdj dg nks fd [ksr ij >xM+k gks jgk gS fQj mlds }kjk jke/ku ds ?kj tkdj mDr ckr crkuk dFku fd;k gS ftlesa mDr nksuksa xokgku dk Hkh jke/ku ds lkFk gqbZ ?kVuk dk p'enhn lk{kh uk gksuk ,oa mUgsa ek= Qksu ij jke/ku ds lkFk ekjihV gksus dh tkudkjh feyuk izdV gksrk gSA mDr nksuksa xokgku us vius&vius c;kuksa esa ekjihV dh ?kVuk ns[kus vFkok ekjihV fdlus dh ,slk dksbZ dFku ugha fd;k gSA izdj.k esa ;g Hkh egRoiw.kZ gS fd Hkkouk ftlds }kjk fiz;adk dks Qksu ij ?kVuk dh tkudkjh nh xbZ mls Hkh vfHk;kstu i{k us U;k;ky; esa ijhf{kr ugha djok;k gS uk gh fiz;adk ds Qksu dh dkWy fMVsYl izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 12. gLrxr izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk izLrqr vU; xokg ih-M-&6 dSyk'kh tks fd e`rd jke/ku dh iRuh gS mlus vius c;kuksa esa mlds ifr dks chjcy] HkUrq o yTtk }kjk ekjuk ,oa mDr ckr iwtk uked yM+dh }kjk Qksu ij fiz;adk dks crkuk ,oa fiz;adk }kjk mDr ckr [2026:RJ-JP:24959-DB] (6 of 9) [CRLAD-371/2024] mldh eka dks crkuk dFku fd;k gS] fdarq izdj.k esa izFke rks xokg ds mDr dFku dh iqf"V xokg ih-M-&7 fiz;adk us vius c;kuksa esa ugha dh gS D;ksafd mlus mlds ikl iwtk uked yM+dh dk Qksu vkus ckcr dksbZ dFku ugha fd;k gS ,oa f}rh; xokg ds mDr dFku dh iqf"V xokg ih-M-&3 iwtk us Hkh vius c;kuksa esa ugha dh gS] D;ksafd mDr xokg us vius c;kuksa esa mls ?kVuk dh tkudkjh ugha gksuk ,oa ?kVuk ds ckjs esa fdlh dks ugha crkuk dFku fd;k gSA 13. gLrxr izdj.k esa ?kVuk dk vU; dksbZ izR;{kn'khZ lk{kh izLrqr ugha gksus ls ;fn i=koyh ij izLrqr ifjfLFkfrtU; lk{; dk voyksdu djsa rks vuqla/kku ds nkSjku izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr yTtkjke ,oa chjcy ls ,d&,d ykBh tfj;s QnZ izn'kZ ih-&17 ,oa izn'kZ ih-&21 ,oa HkUrq dh lwpuk ij mlls ,d dqYgkM+h tfj;s QnZ izn'kZ ih-&19 iou ,oa nhid dh mifLFkfr esa dqYgkM+h cjken djuk crk;k x;k gS] fdarq mDr QnZ tCrh ykBh ,oa dqYgkM+h ds xokg ih-M-&12 iou dqekj ,oa xokg ih-M- 13 nhid nksuksa Lora= xokg ugha gksdj iqfyl dkfeZd gSa ,oa muds fnukad 15&08&2022 dks mDr cjkenxh LFky ij tkus ds lUnHkZ esa uk rks mDr fnukad dk jkstukepk jftLVj izLrqr gqvk gS uk fg okgu ykWx'khV izLrqr gqbZ gS] bl lUnHkZ esa ;g Hkh egRoiw.kZ gS fd mDr nksuksa xokgku us viuh izfrijh{kk esa cjkenxh LFky ij yTtkjke o chjcy ds ifjokj ds vU; lnL;ksa dk fuokl djuk ,oa cjken'kqnk ykBh lkekU; gksdj mu ij dksbZ fo'ks"k igpku fpUg ugha gksuk rFkk ,slh ykBh lkekU;r% xk¡o ds gj ?kj esa feyuk Lohdkj fd;k gS ,oa HkUrq ls cjken dqYgkM+h Hkh lkekU;r% xk¡o esa ik;k tkuk Lohdkj fd;k gSA bl lanHkZ esa vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh xokg ih-M-&18 iq#"kksRre us Hkh vius c;kuksa esa QnZ tCrh ds lHkh xokg iqfyldehZ gksuk ,oa cjken'kqnk ykBh ,oa dqYgkM+h ij [kwu ds vykekr ugha gksuk Lohdkj fd;k gSA ,Q-,l-,y fjiksVZ izn'kZ lh&2 ds vuqlkj Hkh mu ij jDr yxk ugha gksuk ik;k x;k gS] ftlls izdj.k esa mDr tCrh dk;Zokgh ,oa mDr tCr'kqnk ykBh ,oa dqYgkM+h dks jke/ku dh gR;k gsrq iz;ksx esa ysus dh ckr ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs fl) ugha [2026:RJ-JP:24959-DB] (7 of 9) [CRLAD-371/2024] gks ikrh gSA gLrxr izdj.k esa ?kVuk ds fnu e`rd dks izR;FkhZx.k& vfHk;qDrx.k ds lkFk fn[ks tkus ds lUnHkZ esa Hkh dksbZ lk{; izLrqr ugha gqbZ gSA 14. gLrxr izdj.k esa vU; ifjfLFkfrtU; lk{; ds :i esa izR;FkhZx.k& vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk fnukad 16&08&2022 dks tfj;s QnZ izn'kZ ih-&14 yxk;r izn'kZ ih-&16 ?kVukLFky dh rLnhd djuk crk;k x;k gS] fdUrq i=koyh ds voyksdu ls vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh dks mDr ?kVukLFky dh tkudkjh fnukad 13&08&2022 dks uD'kk ekSdk izn'kZ ih&4 rS;kj djrs oDr gksuk izdV gksrk gS] ftlls izdj.k esa QnZ rLnhd ?kVukLFky izn'kZ ih&14 yxk;r izn'kZ ih&16 ls Hkh vfHk;kstu dgkuh dh dM+hc) Ja`[kyk ugha cu ikrh gSA 15. gLrxr izdj.k esa tgk¡ rd tehu fookn dks ysdj jke/ku dh gR;k fd;s tkus dk laca/k gS rks izdj.k tehu fookn ds laca/k esa nLrkost izLrqr ugha gq, gSa ,oa vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh xokg ih-M-&18 iq:"kksRre us vius c;ku esa ;g Lohdkj fd;k gS fd mldh r¶rh'k esa ;g ugha vk;k Fkk muds iwoZ ls dksbZ QkStnkjh ;k jsoU;w eqdnek fopkjk/khu FkkA i=koyh ij iapk;r }kjk jkthukek djkus laca/kh fjdkWMZ Hkh izLrqr ugha gqvk gSA 16. ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; us Babu Sahebagouda Rudragoudar Vs. State of Karnataka reported in [(2024) 8 SCC 149] esa ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gS fd “38. Further, in H.D. Sundara v. State of Karnataka, (2023) 9 SCC 581 this Court summarised the principles governing the exercise of appellate jurisdiction while dealing with an appeal against acquittal under Section 378 Cr.PC as follows: “8. xxx xxx xxx 8.1. The acquittal of the accused further strengthens the presumption of innocence; 8.2. The appellate court, while hearing an appeal against acquittal, is entitled to re- appreciate the oral and documentary evidence; [2026:RJ-JP:24959-DB] (8 of 9) [CRLAD-371/2024] 8.3. The appellate court, while deciding an appeal against acquittal, after re-appreciating the evidence, is required to consider whether the view taken by the trial court is a possible view which could have been taken on the basis of the evidence on record; 8.4. If the view taken is a possible view, the appellate court cannot overturn the order of acquittal on the ground that another view was also possible; and 8.5. The appellate court can interfere with the order of acquittal only if it comes to a finding that the only conclusion which can be recorded on the basis of the evidence on record was that the guilt of the accused was proved beyond a reasonable doubt and no other conclusion was possible.” 39. Thus, it is beyond the pale of doubt that the scope of interference by an appellate court for reversing the judgment of acquittal recorded by the trial court in favour of the accused has to be exercised within the four corners of the following principles: (a) That the judgment of acquittal suffers from patent perversity; (b) That the same is based on a misreading/omission to consider material evidence on record; and (c) That no two reasonable views are possible and only the view consistent with the guilt of the accused is possible from the evidence available on record.” 17. vr% i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{;] mHk;i{kksa ds rdksZa ij euu ,oa mijksDr foospu vuqlkj ge bl fu"d"kZ ij igqaps gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 11&09&2024 esa dksbZ fof/kd o rF;kRed =qfV ugha gS ,oa og iqf"V fd;s tkus ;ksX; gS ,oa vihy] vihykFkhZ&ifjoknh [kkfjt fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA 18. ifj.kker% vihykFkhZ&ifjoknh ds }kjk izLrqr ;g vihy ,rn~}kjk vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gS rFkk fo}ku fopkj.k [2026:RJ-JP:24959-DB] (9 of 9) [CRLAD-371/2024] U;k;ky;&vij ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] djkSyh ¼jkt-½ }kjk ls'ku izdj.k ¼lh-vkbZ-,l-½ la[;k 143@2022] muokuh izdj.k jktLFkku jkT; cuke chjcy oxS- esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 11&09&2024 dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA 19. bl fu.kZ; dh ,d izfr fopkj.k U;k;ky; dh i=koyh ds lkFk fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; dks fHktokbZ tkosA ;g fu.kZ; Hkkjrh; lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 348¼i½ ds rgr Hkkjr ljdkj dh vf/klwpuk jkti= la[;k&1] fnukad 02 tuojh] 1999 ,oa jktLFkku jkti= fnukafdr 10&03&1971 ds rgr fgUnh Hkk"kk ds iz;ksx dks izkf/kd`r fd, tkus ds ifj.kkeLo:i ewy fu.kZ; fgUnh Hkk"kk esa fy[kk;k x;k] ftldk vuqoknd ls vaxzsth Hkk"kk esa vuqokn djokdj mldh izekf.kr izfr Hkh lacaf/kr i{kdkj dks tkjh dh tk,A (BHUWAN GOYAL),J (INDERJEET SINGH),J 72/AKSHAY KUMAR PAREEK/P.A.