O R D E R

1. Leave granted.

2. We notice that, in terms of the impugned order, the High Court has refused to entertain the appellants’ application for suspension of sentence awarded by the Trial Court in its judgment dated 14^th December 2016 in Special Sessions Trial No.34/2016, titled as Signature Not Verified Digital“y sSignetd bay te of Chhattisgarh vs. Aaju Nishad and Another” (Page No.69).

KANCHAN CHOUHAN Date: 2025.02.18

18:14:22 IST Reason:

3. The accused, as evident from the record, stands convicted for having committed an offence punishable under Section 376D of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for a period of 20 years, along with fine. We have perused the material placed on record, particularly the testimonies of the victim, especially the prosecutrix. The accused have been behind bars for a period of nine years (approximate).

4. In view of the attending facts and circumstances, we are inclined to suspend the sentence awarded by the Trial Court, as affirmed by the High Court. The appellants be released on bail on the appropriate terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Trial Court.

5. The Trial Court record is instructed to have been receiv