IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH AT JABALPUR BEFORE HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE RAJENDRA KUMAR VANI

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ON THE 14 OF JANUARY, 2026 CRIMINAL APPEAL No. 8753 of 2025 SHIV PRASAD SONI Versus MADHYA PRADESH EAST ZONE ELECTRICITY Appearance:

Shri Falgun Yadav - Advocate for the appellant. Shri Kush Singh - Advocate for the respondent.

J U D G M E N T By the present appeal filed under Section 374 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the appellant has challenged the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 25.07.2025 passed by Special Judge, Electricity Act, District Rewa in SC ELE No.1419/2017, whereby the appellant (hereinafter referred to as 'the accused') has been convicted under Section 135 of the Electricity Act and sentenced him to undergo R.I for 3 months and fine of Rs.16830/- and in default, to further undergo R.I. for 15 days.

2. The facts necessary for disposal of the present appeal in brief are that complainant's complaint briefly states that on 11.12.2015, Investigating Officer/Assistant Engineer Hemant Chaudhary, along with employees Ishwar Din Saket and Angira Prasad Tiwari, went to Raghunathganj village to conduct a surprise inspection for electricity theft. During the