Mehta, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal is directed against the judgment dated 21st December, 2022 passed by the learned Single Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court Bench at Indore in Criminal Appeal No. 1427 of 1999 whereby, the appeal preferred by the appellant under Section 374 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was dismissed. By way of the said appeal, the appellant had challenged the judgment dated 20th October, 1999 passed by the learned First Additional Sessions Judge, Mandsaur, M.P. in S.T. No. 34 of 1999 whereby, the appellant was convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 394 read with Section 397 of Digitally signed by Narendra Prasad Date: 2024.04.19 14:43:09 IST Reason:

Signature Not Verified the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter being referred to as ‘IPC’) and sentenced to undergo seven years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 1,000/- and, in default of payment of fine, to undergo further rigorous imprisonment of three months.

3. The substratum of the prosecution story is that on 12th December, 1998 at about 10:30 am, while the complainant Bhagu Bai was proceeding to her field, a person came from behind, closed her eyes,