2026:CGHC:10716-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR BABLU RAJENDRA BHANARKAR D BA ig B it L a U ll y R s A ig JE n N ed D b R y A ACQA No. 413 of 2010 BHANARKAR Date: 2026.03.02 17:19:14 +0530 State Of M.P. (Now C.G.)

... Appellant versus

1 - Sohan Das S/o Mohardas Panika, aged 23 years, 2 - Panchkunwar Bai W/o Mohardas Panika, aged 39 years, Both resident of Dhanad Bari, P.S. Korba, District Korba ... Respondent(s)

For Appellant : Mr.S.S.Baghel, Government Advocate For Respondents : Mr.Rahil Kochar, Advocate Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon’ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Judge Judgment on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, CJ

2/3/2026

1. This acquittal appeal under Section 378(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short, ‘Cr.P.C.) has been preferred by the appellant/State questioning the legality and propriety of the judgment of acquittal dated 11.07.1998 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Korba in Sessions Case No.2 of 1996, whereby the learned trial Court while convicting the accused / respondents for offence under Section 498A of the IPC acquitted them of the charges under Sections 306 and 304B of the IPC.

2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on