2026:CGHC:8680-DB Digitally signed by NAFR SISTA SISTA SOMAYAJULU SOMAYAJULU Date:

2026.02.18 HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

18:05:24 +0530 CRA No. 1943 of 2019 {Arising out of judgment dated 28-6-2014 in Sessions Trial No.343/2012 of the 3^rd Additional Sessions Judge, Ambikapur, District Surguja}

Judgment reserved on: 15-1-2026 Judgment delivered on: 18-2-2026 Judgment (Full) uploaded on: 18-2-2026 Lakhan Ram, S/o Motiram Gond, Aged about 27 years, R/o Village Jhirmitti, P.S. Udaipur, District Sarguja, Chhattisgarh.

... Appellant versus State of Chhattisgarh, through the Police Station Udaipur, District Sarguja, Chhattisgarh.

... Respondent For Appellant : Mr. Saurabh Dangi, Advocate.

For Respondent : Mr. Vivek Mishra, Panel Lawyer.

Division Bench: -

Hon'ble Shri Sanjay K. Agrawal and Hon'ble Shri Arvind Kumar Verma, JJ.

C.A.V. Judgment Sanjay K. Agrawal, J.

1. The appellant herein has preferred this criminal appeal under Section 374(2) of the CrPC against the impugned judgment of conviction & order of sentence dated 28-6-2014 passed by the 3^rd Additional Sessions Judge, Ambikapur, District Surguja in Sessions Trial No.343/2012, by which he has been convicted for offence under Sect