2026:CGHC:10984-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR Digitally signed by BABLU BABLU RAJENDRA RAJENDRA BHANARKAR BHANARKARDate:

2026.03.10 16:13:08 +0530 CRA No. 875 of 2025 Shrijan Yadav S/o Shivkumar Yadav Aged About 19 Years R/o Indira Colony, Ward, No. 2, Kasdol P.S.- Kasdol, District- Baloda-Bazar-

Bhatapaara, ( C.G.).

--- Appellant versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through- S.H.O. Kasdol, District- Baloda Bazar-

Bhatapara, ( C.G. ).

--- Respondent(s)

CRA No. 1309 of 2025 Sanjay Srivas S/o Suresh Srivas, Aged About 34 Years R/o Village Sakin Indira Colony, Police Station Ward No. 3, Kasdol District Balodabazar Bhatapara Chhattisgarh.

---Appellant Versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Station House Officer, Police Station Kasdol District Balodabazar Bhatapara Chhattisgarh.

--- Respondent(s)

ACQA No. 289 of 2025 Savita Patle Wd/o Late Shri Shantilal Patle Aged About 38 Years R/o Vill- Khamhariya, P.S. Lawan, Distt.- Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara (C.G.)

---Applicant Versus

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through - S.H.O., P.S. Kasdol, Distt.- Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara (C.G.)

2 - Sanjay Shrivas S/o Suresh Shrivas Aged About 36 Years R/o Indira Colony, Ward No. 03, Kasdol, Dist- Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara (C.G.)

3 - Srijan Yadav S/o Shivkumar Yadav Aged About 21 Years Indira Colony, Ward No. 02, Kasdol, Dist- Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara (C.G.)

4 - Bhagwat Das Manikpuri S/o Shri Banau Das Aged About 25 Years R/o Ward No. 10, Bramhanpara, Kasdol, P.S. Kasdol, Dist- Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara (C.G.)

--- Respondent(s)

For Appellant-: Mr.Pushkar Sinha, Advocate in CRA Shrijan Yadav No.875/2025 For Appellant-: Mr.T.K.Jha and Mr.Aishwarya Kumar Dubey, Sanjay Srivas Advocates in CRA No.1309/2025 For Applicant-: Mr.Ravindra Sharma, Advocate in ACQA Savita Patle No.289/2025 For Respondent- : Mr.S.S.Baghel, Government Advocate State Hon'ble Shri Justice Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon’ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Judge Judgment on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, CJ

3/3/2026

1. Since the aforesaid two criminal appeals and one acquittal appeal have been filed against the impugned judgment dated 5.4.2025 passed by the Special Judge, Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Balodabazar, District Balodabazar-Bhatapara in Special Criminal Case No.09/2023, they were clubbed & heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. Appellant-Shrijan Yadav has preferred Criminal Appeal No.875/2025 and Appellant-Sanjay Srivas has preferred Criminal Appeal No.1309/2025 under Section 14(A)(1) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (hereinafter called as “Atrocities Act”) questioning the impugned judgment dated 5.4.2025 passed by the Special Judge, Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Balodabazar, District Balodabazar-Bhatapara in Special Criminal Case No.09/2023, by which they have been convicted for offence under Sections 302/34 and 201/34 of the IPC and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and fine of Rs.10,000/-, in default of payment of fine to further undergo RI for six months and RI for two years and fine of Rs.2000/-, in default of payment of fine to further undergo RI for two months.

3. Applicant-Savita Patle has preferred Acquittal Appeal No.289/2025 against the impugned judgment dated 5.4.2025 passed by the Special Judge, Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Balodabazar, District Balodabazar-Bhatapara in Special Criminal Case No.09/2023, by which the trial Court has acquitted respondents No.2 and 3 from the charges under Sections 3(2)(v) of the Atrocities Act and also acquitted respondent No.4 from the charges under Section 120B, 302 read with Section 34, 201 read with Section 34 of the IPC and Section 3(2)(v) of the Atrocities Act.

4. The prosecution story, in brief, is that Shantilal Patle was working as the In-charge Principal at the school of village Karda. For the education of his children, he lived with his family at Bal