[2026:RJ-JP:10753-DB] HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 205/1998 jktLFkku ljdkj ----vihykUV cuke egsUnz dqekj iq= dUgS;kyky] edku uacj 3546] vghjks dh beyh ds ikl] yqgkjksa dk [kqjkZ] t;iqjA ----vfHk;qDr@jsLiks.MsaV For Appellant(s) : Jh _f"kjkt flag jkBkSM+] yksd vfHk;kstd For Respondent(s) : Jh oSHko HkkxZo] vf/koDrk HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BHUWAN GOYAL Judgment 13/03/2026 (PER HON'BLE BHUWAN GOYAL, J.) 1. vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj }kjk gLrxr vihy varxZr /kkjk 378 ¼i½ ¼iii½ n-iaz-la- ds rgr fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky;& fof'k"V U;k;k/kh'k] efgyk mRihM+u ,oa ngst izdj.k }kjk ls'ku izdj.k laaaaaaaaa[;k 10@1997] muokuh izdj.k ljdkj cuke egsUnz dqekj esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 01&05&1997] ftlds }kjk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr egsUnz dqekj dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 498,] 304ch o /kkjk 302 Hkk-na-la- ds vkjksiksa ls nks"keqDr fd;k x;k gS] ds fo:) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 2. çdj.k ds la{ksi esa rF; bl izdkj gSa fd ifjoknh jkefd'kksj 'kekZ ¼ih-M-&4½ us iqfyl Fkkuk jkexat] t;iqj ij mifLFkr gksdj rgjhjh fjiksVZ ¼izn'kZ ih&6½ bl vk'k; dh is'k dh fd mlus mldh iq=h Jherh lqeu iRuh egsUnz dqekj dh 'kknh fnukad 10&02&1995 dks dh gSA mls 'kd gS fd mldh iq=h dks egsUnz dqekj] mldh eka] mlds HkkbZ jk/kkfd'ku] jru] pkpk ckcwyky] mlds iq= lsrku] lq[knso vkfn us djhc Ms<+ cts feV~Vh dk rsy Mkydj tyk Mkyk] ftlls mldh e`R;q lokbZ ekuflag gkWfLiVy esa djhc lka; 5%45 cts gks xbZ gSA bu yksxksa us pkj ekg esa Hkkjh ekax ,oa ;kruk nh gS] [2026:RJ-JP:10753-DB] (2 of 8) [CRLA-205/1998] ftldh lwpuk mls le;&le; ij nh Fkh] tks og le;&le; ij iwjh djrk jgk] ijarq fQj Hkh mUgksaus ekax dh iwfrZ djus ds ckn Hkh mDr gknlk dj fn;kA vr% bldh foLr`r tkap dh tkos -------------bR;kfnA 3. mDr fjiksVZ ds vk/kkj ij iqfyl Fkkuk jkexat] ftyk&t;iqj esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ la[;k&215@1995] vUrxZr /kkjk 304ch Hkk-na-la- esa ntZ dj vuqla/kku izkjEHk fd;k x;kA ckn vuqla/kku izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr egsUnz dqekj ds fo:) vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 498,] 304ch] 302 Hkk-na-l- esa vkjksi i= vfrfjDr flfoy U;k;k/kh'k ¼dfu"B [k.M½ ,oa U;kf;d eftLVsªV] izFke oxZ] Øe&9] t;iqj 'kgj] t;iqj ds le{k izLrqr fd;k x;k] ftl ij fo}ku U;k;ky; }kjk izlaKku fy;k tkdj ekeyk ls'ku U;k;ky; }kjk fopkj.kh; gksus ls mls ls'ku U;k;ky; dks dfeV fd;k x;k] tgka ls gLrxr izdj.k fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; fof'k"V U;k;k/kh'k] efgyk mRihM+u ,oa ngst izdj.k] t;iqj dks varfjr gksdj izkIr gqvkA 4. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us cgl pktZ lqudj vfHk;qDr dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 498,] 304ch Hkk-na-la- fodYi esa 302 Hkk-na-la- esa n.Muh; vijk/kksa dk vkjksi fojfpr dj lquk;k o le>k;k rks vfHk;qDr us vkjksi vLohdkj dj vUoh{kk pkgh] ftl ij vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls ekSf[kd lk{; esa xokgku ih-M-&1 yxk;r ih-M-&13 ds c;ku ys[kc) djok;s x;s ,oa ekSf[kd lk{; ds leFkZu esa nLrkostkr izn'kZ ih&1 yxk;r izn'kZ ih&17 is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;s x;sA 5. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr~ vfHk;qDr dks /kkjk 313 na-iz-la- ds rgr ijhf{kr fd;k x;k] ftlesa vfHk;qDr us xokgku ds dFkuksa dks xyr gksuk crkrs gq, mldh iRuh dk igys ls gh xHkZorh gksuk ,oa mlds llqjky okyksa }kjk viuh bTtr cpkus ds fy, mls Qalkuk dFku fd;k rFkk izfrj{kk lk{; esa xokg Mh-M-&1 MkWDVj ,l-,e- nqXxM+ dks is'k dj ijhf{kr djok;k x;k ,oa nLrkosth lk{; esa nLrkost izn'kZ Mh-&1 yxk;r izn'kZ Mh-&7 is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;s x;sA [2026:RJ-JP:10753-DB] (3 of 8) [CRLA-205/1998] 6. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr mHk;i{kksa dks lquk tkdj vkykSP; fu.kZ; fnukad 01&05&1997 }kjk vfHk;qDr dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 498,] 304ch] 302 Hkk-na-la- ds vkjksiksa ls nks"keqDr fd;k x;k] ftlls O;fFkr gksdj gLrxr vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj }kjk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr dks ml ij vkjksfir vijk/kkas esa nks"kfl) dj] nf.Mr djus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 7. fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd dk dFku gS fd izLrqr ekeys esa xokgku ih-M-&4 jkefd'kksj] ih-M-&5 y{eh mQZ ukSjrh nsoh] ih-M-&6 vuqjk/kk ds dFkuksa ls izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr }kjk 'kknh mijkar lqeu dks ngst dh ekax dks ysdj rax o ijs'kku djuk ,oa mls VSEiw [kjhnus ds fy, iSls ykus gsrq dguk ,oa mldh 'kknh ds 04 ekg ckn vlkekU; ifjfLFkfr esa tyus ls mldh e`R;q gksuk izekf.kr gqvk gS] fdUrq fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr mDr lk{; dk lq{erk ,oa xgurk ls foospu fd, fcuk] mls vkjksfir vijk/kksa ls nks"keqDr djus esa xEHkhj ,oa fof/kd =qfV dkfjr dh gS] ftlls vkykSP; vkns'k fnukad 01&05&1997 fof/k lEer ugha gksus ls vikLr fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA vr% vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj Lohdkj djrs gq, izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr egsUnz dqekj dks vkjksfir vijk/kksa esa nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr fd;k tkosA 8. fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr dk nkSjkus cgl ;g dFku gS fd izLrqr ekeys esa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr }kjk e`rdk lqeu dks ngst dh ekax dks ysdj uk rks dHkh rax o ijs'kku fd;k x;k vkSj uk gh mls VSEiw [kjhnus ds fy, iSls ykus gsrq dgk] okLro esa e`rdk 'kknh ls iwoZ fdlh vU; O;fDr ds lalxZ ls xHkZorh gks x;h Fkh ,oa mDr vieku ls cpus ds fy, mlus Lo;a gh vkx yxkdj vkRegR;k dj yhA mudk ;g Hkh dFku gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vkns'k fnukad 01&05&1997 esa fdlh izdkj dh fof/kd ,oa rF;kRed =qfV ugha gS ,oa mDr vkns'k fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk i=koyh ij izLrqr lk{; dk xgurk o lw{erk ls fo'ys"k.k dj ikfjr fd;k [2026:RJ-JP:10753-DB] (4 of 8) [CRLA-205/1998] x;k gS] tks iw.kZr;k fof/k lEer gSA vr% vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkosA 9. geus vihyh; i=koyh dk e; vfHkys[k lEekuiwoZd voyksdu fd;k rFkk mHk;i{kksa ds rdksZa ij xaHkhjrkiwoZd euu fd;kA 10. gLrxr izdj.k esa gekjs le{k ;g fopkj.kh; iz'u gS fd vk;k izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr us e`rdk lqeu ls 'kknh mijkUr mls ngst ,oa VSEiw [kjhnus ds fy, udn :i;s ykus gsrq dgdj Øwjrkiw.kZ O;ogkj fd;k] ftlds QyLo:i mldh tyus ds dkj.k vlkekU; ifjLFkfr;ksa esa e`R;q gqbZ\ 11. gLrxr izdj.k esa e`rdk lqeu dh tyus ls vlkekU; ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa e`R;q gksuk nkSjkus cgl Lohd`r rF; gSA gLrxr izdj.k esa tgka rd e`rdk lqeu ds lkFk 'kknh mijkUr ngst dh ekax dks ysdj Øwjrkiw.kZ O;ogkj ,oa ekjihV ckcr~ vfHk;kstu dgkuh dk iz'u gS] rks bl lanHkZ esa vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls xokg ih-M-&1 nkeksnj yky] ih-M-&3 izgykn jk;] ih-M-&4 jkefd'kksj ¼firk½] ih-M-&5 y{eh mQZ ukSjrh nsoh ¼ekrk½] ih-M-&6 vuqjk/kk ¼cgu½] ih-M-&11 jkevorkj ds c;ku djok;s x;s gS] ftUgksaus vius&vius c;kuksa esa ;|fi izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr }kjk e`rdk lqeu ds lkFk ekjihV djuk ,oa mls VSEiw [kjhnus gsrq iSls ykus gsrq dguk dFku fd;k x;k gS] fdUrq izFke rks mDr leLr xokgku us izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr us muls fdl fnukad o ekg esa ngst dh ekax vFkok lqeu ds lkFk ekjihV dh] dFku ugha fd;k x;k gSA izdj.k esa e`rdk ds lkFk ekjihV gksus ds laca/k esa mldk dksbZ pksV izfrosnu Hkh izLrqr ugha gqvk gS ,oa bl lanHkZ esa dksbZ fof/kd dk;Zokgh dh tkus ckcr~ fjiksVZ Hkh i=koyh ij izLrqr ugha gqbZ gS ,oa bl lanHkZ esa xokg ih-M-&4 jkefd'kksj tks fd e`rdk dk firk gS] mlus viuh izfrijh{kk esa ;g Lohdkj Hkh fd;k gS fd lqeu dh e`R;q ls igys mlls ekjihV ,oa ekax ds laca/k esa iqfyl ls dksbZ f'kdk;r ugha dhA 12. gLrxr izdj.k esa ;g mYys[kuh; gS fd e`rdk lqeu dh e`R;q mijkar /kkjk 174 na-iz-la- dh dk;Zokgh ds nkSjku ifjoknh jkefd'kksj ds c;ku [2026:RJ-JP:10753-DB] (5 of 8) [CRLA-205/1998] izn'kZ Mh-&2 ys[kc) gq, gSa] mDr c;ku esa ifjoknh jkefd'kksj }kjk mldh iq=h lqeu dks ngst dh ekax dks ysdj rax o ijs'kku djus vFkok VSEiw [kjhnus ds fy, mlls iSls eaxokus ds laca/k esa dksbZ dFku ugha fd;k x;k Fkk] mlesa ek= ;g dFku fd;k x;k Fkk fd ^^'kknh ds ckn ls gh bl ifjokj dk gekjs izfr :[kkiuk Fkk vkSj dksbZ ckr mls ekywe ugha gS**] ifjoknh dh vksj ls izLrqr fjiksVZ izn'kZ ih-&6 tks fd mDr c;ku ds ckn mlds }kjk ntZ djkbZ xbZ gS] mlesa Hkh VSEiw [kjhnus ds fy, iSls ekaxuk ,oa iwrhZ ugha gksus ij ekjihV djuk] tSls egRoiw.kZ rF;ksa dks vafdr ugha fd;k x;k gSA gekjh fouez jk; esa ;fn okLro esa e`rdk ls VSEiw [kjhnus ds fy, iSls ykus ds fy, dgk x;k gksrk vFkok ekjihV dh xbZ gksrh rks fuf'pr rkSj ij c;ku izn'kZ Mh-&2 ,oa fjiksVZ izn'kZ ih-&6 esa mDr ckrsa vo'; vafdr gksrh] ftlls gekjh fouez jk; esa mDr rF; lksp&fopkj dj tksMk tkuk izdV gksus ls vkW¶VjFkkWV ¼Afterthought½ gksuk izdV gksrk gSA bl lanHkZ esa ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd xokg ih-M-&1 nkeksnj yky us viuh izfrijh{kk esa 'kknh ds le; egsUnz dh rjQ ls ngst dh ekax ugha gksuk] lqeu ds HkkbZ }kjk mls dHkh Hkh ngst dh ekax ckcr~ dqN ugha dguk Lohdkj fd;k gSA xokg ih-M-&2 lhrkjke tks fd ifjoknh i{k dk fudV laca/kh gS] mlus vius c;kuksa esa vfHk;kstu dgkuh dh iqf"V ugha dh gS] cfYd mlus vius c;kuksa esa lqeu }kjk mlls dHkh Hkh mlds ifr egsUnz ,oa tsBkuh dh dksbZ f'kdk;r ugha djuk Lohdkj fd;k gSA xokg ih-M-&3 izgykn jk; us Hkh viuh izfrijh{kk esa 'kknh ds le; oj i{k dh vksj ls ngst dh ekax ugha gksuk dFku fd;k gSA xokg ih-M-&11 jkevorkj us Hkh viuh izfrijh{kk esa 'kknh ds le; eqyfte dh vksj ls dksbZ ekax ugha djuk dFku fd;k gSA 13. gLrxr izdj.k esa ;|fi xokg ih-M-&4 jkefd'kksj ,oa ih-M-&5 y{eh mQZ ukSjrh nsoh us vius&vius c;kuksa esa vLirky esa e`rdk }kjk mUgsa mls tyk fn;k&mls tyk fn;k] 'kCn dguk dFku fd;k x;k gS] fdUrq muds mDr dFku fo'oluh; gksuk izdV ugha gksrs gSa] D;ksafd izFke rks mDr rF; xokg ih-M-&4 jkefd'kksj ds iqfyl c;ku izn'kZ [2026:RJ-JP:10753-DB] (6 of 8) [CRLA-205/1998] Mh-&2 ,oa mlds }kjk izLrqr fjiksVZ izn'kZ ih-&6 esa vafdr ugha gS ,oa xokg ih-M-&5 y{eh mQZ ukSjrh nsoh us viuh izfrijh{kk esa ;g Lohdkj fd;k gS fd tc os vLirky igqaps rc lqeu cksyus dh fLFkfr esa ugha Fkh] e`rdk ds csM gsMsM fVdV izn'kZ Mh-&7 vuqlkj Hkh mldh 'kkjhfjd fLFkfr Bhd ugha gksuk] mlds }kjk Bhd ls lkal ugha ys ikuk izdV gksrk gS] ftlls vLirky esa e`rdk }kjk mls tyk fn;k] dFku fd;k tkuk fo'oluh; gksuk izdV ugha gksrk gSA izdj.k esa ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd xokg Mh-M-&1 MkW- ,l-,e- nqXxM ds dFkuksa ls izn'kZ ih-&10 esa fQVl dh yEckbZ 21 lsUVhehVj o otu 650 xzke vafdr gksus ls mldk 05 ekg ;k mlls vf/kd dk gksuk dFku fd;k gS] tcfd e`rdk dh vfHk;qDr ds lkFk 'kknh mldh e`R;q ls 04 ekg iwoZ gqbZ gS] ftlls mldk mlds fookg ds le; xHkZorh gksuk izFken`"V;k izdV gksus ls] lQkbZ i{k ds bl dFku dk vizR;{k :i ls leFkZu gksrk gS fd mDr dkj.k ls e`rdk us Lo;a gh vkRegR;k dh gSA 14. gLrxr izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu dgkuh vuqlkj e`rdk ij iyVs ls pksVsa igqapkuk ,oa mDr iyVk] tjhdsu ,oa ekfpl izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr dh lwpuk ij mlls cjken fd;k tkuk crk;k x;k gS] fdUrq izFke rks mDr cjkenxh ds xokg ih-M-&7 xaxkjke o ih-M-&8 txeksgu nksuksa i{knzksgh ?kksf"kr gq, gS ,oa mUgksaus vius&vius c;kuksa esa muds le{k iqfyl }kjk iyVk] tjhdsu o ekfpl tCr ugha djuk dFku fd;k gS] lkFk gh ftl vUos"k.k vf/kdkjh }kjk mDr iyVk cjken fd;k x;k gS] mls U;k;ky; esa izLrqr dj ijhf{kr ugha djok;k x;k gSA izdj.k esa ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd e`rdk ds iksLVekVZe fjiksVZ esa vk;h [kjksap o uhyxw fu'kku dks ih-M-&10 ,u-,y- fMlkfu;k us lqij fQf'k;y gksdj gkFk ls ;k vaxqfy;ksa ls 'kjhj ij ncko yxkus ij vk lduk ,oa flj ds cy fxjus ls [kjksap vk lduk dFku fd;k gS] ftlls e`rdk dks ?kk;y voLFkk esa VSDlh esa vLirky ys tkrs oDr ,oa mrkjrs le; mDr pksVsa vkus dh laHkkouk ls bUdkj ugha [2026:RJ-JP:10753-DB] (7 of 8) [CRLA-205/1998] fd;k tk ldus ls Hkh gLrxr izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu dgkuh dh iqf"V ugha gks ikrh gSA 15. 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; 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.” “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: [2026:RJ-JP:10753-DB] (8 of 8) [CRLA-205/1998] 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.” 16. ,sls esa i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{; rFkk mHk;i{kksa ds rdksZa ij euu ds i’pkr~ ge bl fu"d"kZ ij igqaps gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 01&05&1997 esa dksbZ fof/kd o rF;kRed =qfV ugha gS ,oa og iqf"V fd;s tkus ;ksX; gS ,oa vihy] vihykFkhZ&jktLFkku ljdkj [kkfjt fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA 17. ifj.kker% vihykFkhZ jktLFkku ljdkj ds }kjk izLrqr ;g vihy ,rn~}kjk vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gS rFkk fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; fof'k"V U;k;k/kh'k] efgyk mRihMu ,oa ngst izdj.k] t;iqj }kjk ls'ku izdj.k laaaaaaa[;k 10@1997] muokuh izdj.k ljdkj cuke egsUnz dqekj esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 01&05&1997 dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA 18. 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 (BHUWAN GOYAL),J (MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL),J AKSHAY KUMAR PAREEK /122