2026:CGHC:8752 Digitally signed by ALOK ALOK SHARMA NAFR SHARMA Date:

2026.03.27

11:05:34 +0530 HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR ACQA No. 934 of 2024

1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through P. S. Civil Line, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh ... Appellant(s)

versus

1 - Mahendra Singh @ Rinku S/o Bhikham @ Raju Aged About 23 Years R/o Ashok Nagar, Chantidih, Police Station Sarkanda, Distt. Bilaspur, C.G.

... Respondent(s)

For Petitioner/State : Mr. Vinod Tekam, Govt. Advocate.

For Respondent(s) : None Hon'ble Shr i Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J.

Judgment on Board

18/02/2026

1. The State has filed the present acquittal appeal against the impugned judgment dated 09.07.2021 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge/First FTSC (POCSO), Bilaspur, District Bilaspur, in Special Sessions Case No. 09/2018, whereby the learned trial court has acquitted the respondent/accused from the charge under Section 363 and 354 of I.P.C. and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (in short ‘POCSO Act’).

2. Brief facts of the case are that the father of the victim lodged a written complaint on 16.12.2017, to the police that his child has been molested on 15.12.2017. The written