IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH -.-

CRA-AS-375-2022 (O&M)

Date of Decision : 04.02.2026 Sandeep Sharma ....Appellant VERSUS Satish Kumar and Another ....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANDEEP PANNU Present: Mr. Naveen Chopra, Advocate for the appellant.

None for the respondents.

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MANDEEP PANNU J. (Oral)

1. The applicant has filed the present application under Section 378(4) Cr.P.C read with Section 482 Cr.P.C for grant of leave to file an appeal against the impugned judgment dated 06.01.2020 passed by learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Panipat, whereby the trial Court has acquitted the respondents-accused in a complaint under Sections 406/420/467/468/471/120-B IPC.

2. Leave to appeal was granted.

3. The limited question which arises for consideration in the present proceedings is with regard to the maintainability of an appeal against an order of acquittal passed in a complaint case and, more particularly, as to whether such an appeal can be entertained under the proviso to Section 372 of the Code of Criminal Procedure at the instance of the complainant.

4. This Court has carefully considered the statutory scheme as contained in Sections 2(wa), 372 and 378