2026:CGHC:11623-DB Digitally VISHAKHA signed by BEOHAR VISHAKHA BEOHAR NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR CRA No. 68 of 2020

1 - Jageshwari Bai Atrame W/o Late Radheylal Atrame Aged About 33 Years R/o Village Rangakathera, Police Station Mohla, District Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh., District : Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh ---Appellant versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Mohla, District Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh., District : Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh --- Respondent For Appellant : None. Ms. Nirupama Bajpai, Advocate through Legal Aid.

For Respondent/State : Mr. Dharmesh Shrivastava, Deputy Advocate General.

ACQA No. 104 of 2021

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Mohla, District Rajnandgaon Chhattisgarh., District : Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh ---Appellant Versus

1 - Ramadhar Purame S/o Late Milor Singh, aged about 45 Years, Resident of Village Thakurtola, Police Station Khadgaon, District Rajnandgaon Chhattisgarh.

2- Suraj Kumar Purame, S/o Budhu Ram Purame, aged about 20 years, Resident of Village Thakurtola, Police Station Khadgaon, District Rajnandgaon, C.G.

3- Kushal Usare, S/o Mansukh Usare, aged about 21 years, Resident of village Thakurtola, Police Station Khadgaon, District Rajnandgaon, C.G.

4- Chandan Singh Patel, S/o Late Biklu Patel, aged about 30 years, Resident of Village Thakurtola, Police Station Khadgaon, District Rajnandgaon Chhattisgarh.

--- Respondents (Cause-title Taken From Caste Information System)

For Appellant/State : Mr. Dharmesh Shrivastava, Deputy Advocate General.

For Respondents : None.

Division Bench : Hon'ble Shri Justice Sanjay S. Agrawal and Hon'ble Shri Amitendra Kishore Prasad, JJ.

Judgment on Board

11.03.2026 Per Amitendra Kishore Prasad, J.

1. Since both the above-captioned appeals arise out of the common judgment dated 24.12.2019 passed by the First Additional Sessions Judge, Rajnandgaon in Sessions Trial No.17/2019, they are being heard together and disposed of by this common judgment.

2. Criminal Appeal No.62 of 2020 has been preferred by the appellant- Jageshwari Bai Atrame under Section 374(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 calling in question the legality and correctness of the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 24.12.2019, whereby she has been convicted and sentenced as under:-

(Both the sentences were directed to run concurrently)

3. Acquittal Appeal No.104 of 2021 has been filed by the State against the same judgment whereby respondents, namely, Ramadhar Purame, Suraj Kumar Purame, Kushal Usare and Chandan Singh Patel have been acquitted of the offences punishable under Sections 302/34 and 201 of IPC.

4. Since no one appeared on behalf of the accused/appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 62 of 2020, Ms. Nirupama Bajpai, learned counsel on the panel of the High Court Legal Services Committee, was requested to assist the Court and argue the matter on behalf of the appellant. She kindly consented and advanced arguments on behalf of the appellant- Jageshwari Bai Atrame.

5. The High Court Legal Services Committee is directed to issue a formal order of appointment in her favour, and she shall be entitled to the prescribed fee in accordance with the rules.

6. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that deceased- Chavlesh Churendra was residing in village Rengakathera under Police Station Mohla, District Rajnandgaon. It is alleged that the deceased was having a love affair with the present appellant- Jageshwari Bai Atrame. According to the prosecution, the villagers were aware of the said relationship and a meeting was convened in the village wherein both of them were advised to stay separately and not to continue their relationship. On 17.11.2018, Kamta Prasad (PW-7) along with village Kotwarin Malti Devi (PW-6) and others went to Police Station Mohla and informed that the dead body of deceased- Chavlesh Churendra was lying inside the house of appellant- Jageshwari Bai Atrame. On the basis of the said information, merg intimation was recorded vide Ex.P-15