2026:CGHC:12372-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR ACQA No.45 of 2018

1 - Ghashi Ram Lonia S/o Baishakhu Ram Lonia Aged About 44 Years R/o Village Kaya, Police Station Chakerbhata, District Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh Appellant (s)

versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Chowki Chilfi, Police Station Lormi, District Mungeli, Chhattisgarh

2 - Jagdeep Jaiki Lonia S/o Kanhaiya Lal Lonia Aged About 23 Years

3 - Smt. Gulaba Bai W/o Kanhaiya Lal Lonia Aged About 55 Years 4 - Kanhaiya Lal Lonia S/o Late Khhamhhan Lal Lonia Aged About 58 Years All R/o Village Navrangpur, Chowki- Chilfi, Police Station Lormi, District Mungeli, Chhattisgarh Respondent(s)

ACQA No.304 of 2018

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Police Outpost Chilfi, Police Station Lormi, District- Mungeli, Chhattisgarh Appellant (s)

Versus Digitally 1 - Jagdeep Jaiki Lonia S/o Shri Kanhaiya Lal Aged About 23 Years signed by R 2 - Smt. Gulaba Bai W/o Shri Kanhaiya Lal Aged About 55 Years NIRALA

3 - Kanhaiya Lal (Since Deceased) S/o Late Shri Khamhan Singh Lonia All R/o- Village Navrangpur, Police Outpost Chilfi, Police Station Lormi, District- Mungeli, Chhattisgarh Respondent(s)

For Complainant (s) : Mr. Ravindra Sharma and Ms. Saumya Vaishnav, Advocates For State(s) : Mr. Ramnarayan Sahu, Dy. GA For respondent-accused : Mr. Rajesh Jain, Advocate Hon’ble Smt. Justice Rajani Dubey Hon’ble Shri Justice Radhakishan Agrawal Judgment on Board Per Rajani Dubey. J.

16/03/2026

1. Since both these appeals arise out of common judgment of conviction and order of sentence, as one appeal has been filed by the complainant whereas the another appeal has been filed by the State, therefore, the same have been clubbed together, heard together and are being decided by a common order.

2. The present acquittal appeals have been preferred by the appellants against the judgment of acquittal dated 21.08.2017 passed by the learned Additional Session Judge, Mungeli in ST No.40/2014, whereby the accused respondents have been acquitted of the charges under Sections 302/34, 304-B & 201 of IPC.

3. Brief facts of the case are that on 02.07.2014, the complainant Ghasiram Loniya lodged the report at Police Station concerned to the effect that the marriage of her daughter (deceased Smt. Kunti Bai) was duly solemnized with the Accused Respondent Jagdeep @ Jaiki Laniya about 2 or 2 years ago, thereafter, she was residing at her in-law's house at Village Navrangpur, District Mungell and she was having a male child aged about 15 months. On 23.06.2014 at about 07:00 PM, the Up Sarpanch Narayan of Village Navrangpur had informed his son Hariram on Mobile that her daughter (deceased Smt. Kunti Bai) had got electric current and asked to immediately come to the Village Navrangpur. Thereafter, he along with Lalaram, Hariram, Vishram, Mahesh Kaushik and Anil Kaushik went to Village Navrangpur at about 09:30 PM and saw there that her daughter deceased Kunti Bai was burnt from face, mouth, hair, hands, legs and she was covered with bed sheet and she was already died. The death of the deceased did not appear as due to electric current and the respondents accused committed murder of his daughter. Thereafter a case was registered against the accused respondents. After completion of the investigation, the charge- sheet was filed before the Magistrate concerned. The learned Trial Court after appreciating the oral and documentary evidence available on record acquitted the accused respondents of the aforesaid charges.

4. Learned counsel for the complainant as well as State jointly submit that the impugned judgment of acquittal passed by the learned Trial Court is illegal. Some of the prosecution witnesses stated against the accused/respondents, but the learned Trial Court only on minor contradictions and omissions on the part of the other prosecution witnesses acquitted the respondents. The prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the respondents based on the evidence available on reco