ORDER

Dated this the 19^th day of January, 2026

The scope and ambit of the grant of leave under Section 378 (4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 , is the issue involved in this Criminal Leave Petition.

2. The instant leave petition is filed under Section 378 (4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 , seeking leave of this Court to prefer an appeal against the judgment dated 12.07.2019 in C.C.No.170/2018 passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (for the trial of criminal cases against sitting and former M.Ps/M.L.As of the district of Ernakulam), whereby the third respondent was acquitted of the offence punishable under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. The petitioner herein is the complainant in the above calendar case, registered pursuant to a complaint filed under Section 190 of the .

3. Heard Sri.V.A. Ajivass, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri. Aswin P. Kumar, learned counsel for the third respondent and Smt. Deepa Narayanan, learned Senior Government Pleader for the fourth respondent/State. Perused the records.

4. THE FACTUAL MATRIX :-

The factual matrix of the instant case reveals that the petitioner is a lottery seller and the District Vice- President