[2026:RJ-JP:9878-DB] HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 662/2001 State of Rajasthan ----Appellant Versus 1. Manoj son of Bhajanlal, R/o Jadugar, Ajmer. 2. Rajesh son of Bhajanlal, R/o Jadugar, Ajmer. (since died) ----Accused/Respondents For Appellant(s) : Mr. Naresh Kumar Gupta, P.P. For Respondent(s) : Mr. Aayush Agarwal, Adv. HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BHUWAN GOYAL Judgment 09/03/2026 (PER HON'BLE BHUWAN GOYAL, J.) 1. fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd }kjk Fkkukf/kdkjh iqfyl Fkkuk vyoj xsV] ftyk vtesj }kjk izsf"kr fjiksVZ e; e`R;q izek.k i= jkts'k iq= Hktuyky U;k;ky; esa izLrqr gksus ij vfHkys[k ij yh tkdj izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr la[;k&2 jkts'k iq= Hktuyky dh fnukad 20-05-2021 dks e`R;q gksus ls mlds fo:) dk;Zokgh vcsV dh tkus ls] izLrqr vihy dk fu.kZ; izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr la[;k&1 eukst dh gn rd fd;k tk jgk gSA 2. vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj }kjk gLrxr vihy varxZr /kkjk 378 ¼i½ & ¼iii½ n-iaz-la- ds rgr fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky;& vij ls’ku U;k;k/kh’k] la[;k&2] vtesj }kjk ls'ku izdj.k laaaaaaaa[;k 27@2000] muokuh izdj.k jktLFkku ljdkj cuke eukst o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 05-02-2001] ftlds }kjk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr eukst o vU; dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 452] 302 Hkk-na-la- ,oa /kkjk 302@34 [2026:RJ-JP:9878-DB] (2 of 8) [CRLA-662/2001] Hkk-na-la- ds vkjksiksa esa lansg dk ykHk nsdj nks"keqDr fd;k x;k gS] ds fo:) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 3. çdj.k ds la{ksi esa rF; bl izdkj gSa fd Jherh dqlqe us nkSjkus bZykt ts-,y-,u- vLirky vtesj esa ,d ipkZ c;ku fnukad 30-04-2000 dks bl vk'k; dk fn;k fd og viuh ukuh xaxk ds ikl tknwxj esa jgrh gS] djhc eghus Hkj igys eukst dksyh ls mlus ,d gtkj :i;s m/kkj fy;s Fks] ftlds C;kt lfgr pkj gtkj :i;s fouksn ds lkeus eukst dks ns fn;s Fks] 'kke 8-00 cts eukst mls egs'k dh gksVy ls idM dj yk;k] mlds lkFk cYyw Hkh Fkk] eukst us mls dgk fd iSls ns vkSj xkyh&xykSp djus yx x;k] fQj og ogka ls vius ?kj tknwxj igqaph rks eukst o mlds HkkbZ jkts'k us mlds lkFk ekjihV dh o dgk fd nl gtkj :i;s vHkh ns] eukst us ml ij dSjkslhu rsy Mky fn;k o dgk fd mldk eMZj djsaxs vkSj mlds lkFk flj ds cky idMdj ekjihV dh] fnyhi] fd'ku] ckcwyky o mldh ukuh us mls chp&cpko dj NqMok;k] blds ckn og tku cpk dj Hkkxh] jkLrs esa mlus ekfpl ls Lo;a gh vius diMksa esa vkx yxk yh] D;ksafd eukst o jkts'k mls tku ls ekjuk pkgrs FksA 4. mDr ipkZ c;ku ds vk/kkj ij iqfyl Fkkuk vyoj xsV] vtesj esa eqdnek uEcj 113@2000] vUrxZr /kkjk 307] 452] 384 Hkk-na-la- esa ntZ dj vuqla/kku izkjEHk fd;k x;k] bZykt ds nkSjku fnukad 04-05-2000 dks eqLlekr dqlqe dh e`R;q gksus ls izdj.k esa /kkjk 307 Hkk-na-la- ds LFkku ij /kkjk 302 Hkk-na-la- tksMh xbZ ,oa ckn vuqla/kku izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr eukst ds fo:) vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 452] 384] 302 Hkk-na-la- ,oa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr jkts'k ds fo:) vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 452] 384] 302@34 Hkk-na-l- esa vkjksi i= vfrfjDr flfoy U;k;k/kh'k ¼dfu"B [kaM½ ,oa U;kf;d eftLVsªV] izFke oxZ] la[;k&6] vtesj 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 [2026:RJ-JP:9878-DB] (3 of 8) [CRLA-662/2001] fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; vij lS'ku U;k;k/kh'k] la[;k&2] vtesj dks varfjr gksdj izkIr gqvkA 5. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us cgl pktZ lqudj izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 452] 302 ,oa 302@34 Hkk-na-la- esa n.Muh; vijk/kksa dk vkjksi i`Fkd&i`Fkd fojfpr dj mUgsa lquk;k o le>k;k rks vfHk;qDrx.k us vkjksi vLohdkj dj vUoh{kk pkgus ij vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls ekSf[kd lk{; esa xokgku ih-MCY;w-&1 yxk;r ih-MCY;w-&15 ds c;ku ys[kc) djok;s ,oa ekSf[kd lk{; ds leFkZu esa nLrkostkr izn'kZ ih&1 yxk;r izn'kZ ih&20 is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;s x;sA 6. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr~ vfHk;qDrx.k dks /kkjk 313 na-iz-la- ds rgr ijhf{kr fd;k x;k] ftlesa vfHk;qDrx.k us xokgku ds dFkuksa dks xyr gksuk crkrs gq, e`rdk }kjk Fkkus esa Lo;a vkx yxkuk dFku fd;k ,oa izfrj{kk lk{; esa xokg Mh-M-&1 yxk;r Mh-M-&4 dh lk{; ys[kc) djok;h xbZ ,oa nLrkosth lk{; esa nLrkost izn'kZ Mh-&1 yxk;r izn'kZ Mh-&6 is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;s x;sA 7. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr mHk;i{kksa dks lquk tkdj vkykSP; fu.kZ; fnukad 05-02-2001 }kjk izR;FkhZx.k&vfHk;qDrx.k dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 452] 302 ,oa 302@34 Hkk-na-la- ds vkjksiksa ls lansg dk ykHk nsdj nks"keqDr fd;k x;k] ftlls O;fFkr gksdj gLrxr vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj }kjk mUgsa vkjksfir vijk/kkas esa nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr djus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 8. fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd dk dFku gS fd izdj.k esa e`rdk ds ipkZ c;ku] e`R;qdkfyd dFku ,oa p'enhn xokg ih-M-&6 [ktku flag o ih-M-&9 jktkjke ds dFkuksa ls izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr eukst ds fo:) vkjksfir vijk/k dh iw.kZ :i ls iqf"V gqbZ 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] izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr eukst dks vkjksfir vijk/kksa ls nks"keqDr djus esa xEHkhj ,oa fof/kd =qfV dkfjr [2026:RJ-JP:9878-DB] (4 of 8) [CRLA-662/2001] dh gS] ftlls vkykSP; vkns'k fnukad 05-02-2001 fof/k lEer ugha gksus ls vikLr fd, tkus ;ksX; gS] vr% vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj Lohdkj djrs gq, izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr la[;k&1 eukst dks vkjksfir vijk/k esa nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr fd;k tkosA 9. fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr dk nkSjkus cgl ;g dFku gS fd e`rdk ds ipkZ c;ku ,oa e`R;qdkfyd dFkuksa esa ?kVuk ,oa ?kVuk ds LFkku ds lanHkZ esa xgjk fojks/kkHkkl gS] ftlls os nksuksa fo'oluh; ugha gS] mudk ;g Hkh dFku gS fd izdj.k esa xokg ih-M-&6 [ktku flag o ih-M-&9 jktkjke ?kVuk ds p'enhn lk{kh ugha gS] D;ksafd muds dFkuksa dh iqf"V jkstukepk izn'kZ Mh-&1 ,oa uD'kk ekSdk izn'kZ Mh-&3 ls ugha gksrh gS] mudk ;g Hkh dFku gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vkns'k fnukad 05-02-2001 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 x;k gS] tks iw.kZr;k fof/k lEer gSA vr% vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkosA 10. geus vihyh; i=koyh dk e; vfHkys[k lEekuiwoZd voyksdu fd;k rFkk mHk;i{kksa ds rdksZa ij xaHkhjrkiwoZd euu fd;kA 11. gLrxr izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu i{k dk ;g dsl jgk gS fd fnukad 30-04-2000 dks izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr us e`rdk dqlqe ds lkFk ekjihV dj] ml ij dSjkslhu Mkydj ,oa vkx yxkdj mldh gR;k dh\ mijksDr vfHk;kstu dgkuh ds lanHkZ esa ;fn i=koyh ij izLrqr lk{; dk voyksdu djsa rks gLrxr izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr fdlh Hkh Lora= lk{kh us mDr vfHk;kstu dgkuh dh iqf"V ugha dh gS] ;|fi xokg ih-M-&6 [ktku flag ,oa ih-M-&9 jktkjke us vius&vius c;kuksa esa mudk ?kVuk ds fnu vyoj xsV Fkkus ij rSukr gksdj muds }kjk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr dks e`rdk ds diMksa esa vkx yxkrs ns[kuk dFku fd;k x;k gS] fdUrq izFke rks gLrxr izdj.k esa mDr nksuksa xokgku ds fnukad 30-04-2000 dks vyoj xsV Fkkus ij rSukr gksdj M~;wVh ij gksus ds laca/k esa dksbZ fjdkWMZ is'k ugha fd;k [2026:RJ-JP:9878-DB] (5 of 8) [CRLA-662/2001] x;k gS] lkFk gh muds dFkuksa dh iqf"V e`rdk ds ipkZ c;ku izn'kZ ih-&6,] jkstukepk izn'kZ Mh-&1 ,oa uD'kk ekSdk izn'kZ Mh-&3 ls Hkh ugha gqbZ gS] D;ksafd mDr rhuksa esa gh e`rdk }kjk Lo;a vkx yxkuk vafdr fd;k x;k gS] bl lanHkZ esa xokg Mh-M-&2 jktw mQZ jktdqekj tks fd e`rdk dk ifr gS] mlds c;ku egRoiw.kZ gS] ftlesa mlus ;g dFku fd;k gS fd og viuh iRuh ds ikl vLirky esa x;k rks mlus mls crk;k fd tc og iqfyl Fkkuk vyoj xsV ij fjiksVZ fy[kokus xbZ rks fjiksVZ ugha fy[kh] blfy, mlus vius diMksa ij vkx yxk yh] ftlls gLrxr izdj.k esa xokg ih-M-&6 [ktku flag ,oa ih-M-&9 jktkjke ds dFku fd muds }kjk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr dks e`rdk ds vkx yxkrs ns[kk x;k Fkk dh fo'oluh;rk ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs fl) ugha gks ikrh gSA 12. gLrxr izdj.k esa vc tgka rd e`rdk ds ipkZ c;ku ,oa e`R;qdkfyd dFku dk lanHkZ gS] rks mDr ipkZ c;ku izn'kZ ih-&6, ,oa e`R;qdkfyd dFku izn'kZ ih-&8 fnukad 30-04-2000 dks Øe'k% le; 8-40 ih-,e- o 9-50 ih-,e- ij ys[kc) fd;s x;s gSa] vius ipkZ c;ku izn'kZ ih-&6, esa e`rdk us izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr }kjk ?kj ds vanj ml ij dSjkslhu rsy Mkydj mls eMZj dh /kedh nsuk] mls fnyhi] fd'ku] ckcwyky o mldh ukuh }kjk chp&cpko dj NqMokuk] fQj mldk ogka ls tku cpkdj Hkkxuk ,oa jkLrs esa mlds }kjk Lo;a gh ekfpl ls vius diMksa esa vkx yxkuk dFku fd;k x;k gS] fdUrq mlus vius e`R;qdkfyd dFku izn'kZ ih-&8 tks fd fo}ku vfrfjDr flfoy U;k;k/kh'k ¼dfu"B [k.M½ ,oa U;kf;d eftLVsªV] izFke oxZ] uEcj&01] vtesj }kjk ipkZ c;ku ds dqN le; ckn gh ys[kc) fd;s x;s gSa] mlesa ipkZ c;ku esa vafdr dFku ls foijhr ?kj ls ckgj fudyrs oDr izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr eukst }kjk ml ij rsy Mkydj vkx yxkuk dFku fd;k gSA 13. gLrxr izdj.k esa ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd ipkZ c;ku izn'kZ ih-&6, ,oa e`R;qdkfyd dFku izn'kZ ih-&8 esa e`rdk us mls ekjihV ds oDr fnyhi] fd'ku] ckcwyky o vU; }kjk chp&cpko dj NqMokuk dFku [2026:RJ-JP:9878-DB] (6 of 8) [CRLA-662/2001] fd;k x;k gS] fdUrq ipkZ c;ku ,oa e`R;qdkfyd dFku esa vafdr mDr rF; dh iqf"V Hkh xokg ih-M-&1 fnyhi flag] ih-M-&3 fd'ku] ih-M-&4 ckcwyky] ih-M-&5 xaxk nsoh ds dFkuksa ls ugha gks ik;h gS] D;ksafd mDr lHkh xokgku us vius&vius c;kuksa esa muds lkeus >xMk ,oa ekjihV ugha gksuk dFku fd;k gSA 14. gLrxr izdj.k esa blh izdkj e`rdk us vius e`R;qdkfyd dFku izn'kZ ih-&8 esa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr }kjk ?kj ls ckgj fudyrs oDr ml ij rsy Mkydj vkx yxkuk dFku fd;k x;k gS] fdUrq mlds mDr dFku dh iqf"V Hkh jkstukepk izn'kZ Mh-&1 ,oa uD'kk ekSdk izn'kZ Mh-&3 esa vafdr rF;ksa ls ugha gqbZ gS] D;ksafd jkstukepk izn'kZ Mh-&1 esa e`rdk }kjk Lo;a vkx yxkuk ,oa izn'kZ Mh-&3 uD'kk ekSdk esa Hkh mlds }kjk Fkkus ds eq[; }kj ds lkeus [kMs gksdj Lo;a rhyh ls diMksa esa vkx yxkuk vafdr fd;k x;k gS] ,sls esa ipkZ c;ku ,oa e`R;qdkfyd dFkuksa esa ?kVuk ,oa ?kVuk ds LFkku ds laca/k esa ijLij fojks/kkHkkl mRiUu gksus] mudh iqf"V jkstukepk ,oa uD'kk ekSdk ls ugha gksus ls muds fo'oluh; ugha gksus ds laca/k esa tks fu"d"kZ fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us ikfjr fd;k gS] mlesa fdlh izdkj dh fof/kd o rF;kRed =qfV gksuk izdV ugha gksrk 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; [2026:RJ-JP:9878-DB] (7 of 8) [CRLA-662/2001] 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.” 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 05-02-2001 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 [2026:RJ-JP:9878-DB] (8 of 8) [CRLA-662/2001] U;k;ky; vij ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] la[;k&2] vtesj }kjk ls'ku izdj.k laaaaaaa[;k 27@2000] muokuh izdj.k jktLFkku ljdkj cuke eukst o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 05-02-2001 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 ;g fu.kZ; Hkkjrh; lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 348 ¼i½ 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;s 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 (MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL),J AKSHAY KUMAR PAREEK /160