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

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ON THE 18 OF FEBRUARY, 2026 CRIMINAL APPEAL No. 1436 of 2026 THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH Versus PRADEEP SAHU @ PAPPU AND OTHERS Appearance:

Ms. Vineeta Sharma - Deputy Govt. Advocate for appellant/State.

Shri Saket Sharma - Advocate for respondents no.1 and 2.

Shri S.C. Chatruvedi - Advocate for respondent no.3.

JUDGMENT This Criminal Appeal has been filed by the State of M.P. under Section 378(3) of Cr.P.C. for grant of leave to appeal, assailing the judgment and order of acquittal dated 04.04.2015 passed in Session Trial No.10/2014 (Pradeep Sahu and others Vs. State of M.P.) by learned Sessions Judge, District Sidhi (M.P.), whereby respondents - Pradeep Sahu @ Pappu, Jairam Sahu and Ramprabhav Yadav (hereinafter referred to as 'the accused') have been acquitted of the offence under Sections 456, 354 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 16.06.2013 in the night, when complainant Ramakant Sahu and his wife were at hospital and their daughter (prosecurtix) was at home along with her younge