Aman Bhalla v. State of Punjab & Ors

o o o 1o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o AmanoBhallaoo ….Petitionero versuso o StateoofoPunjaboandootherso ….Respondentso o o:oMayo07,o2026oReservedoon Mayo07,o2026 DateoofoPronouncement/Decision:oMayo11,o2026o DateoofoUploadingo:oMayo11,o2026o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Mr.oRaioSinghoChauhan,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o Mr.oAdhirajoSinghoThind,oAAGoPunjab.o o o o Mr.oH.P.S.oGhuman,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentsoNo.2oando3.oo o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o o o o Presento Criminalo Revisiono Petitiono haso beeno filedo seekingo settingo asideo ofo theo impugnedo judgmento datedo 12.06.2014o passedo byo theo learnedoAdditionaloChiefoJudicialoMagistrate,oPathankoto(foroshort,o'theotrialo Court'),owherebyorespondentsoNo.o2oando3owereoacquittedoofotheochargeso framedoagainstothemobyoextendingotheobenefitoofodoubt.oTheopresentopetitiono alsooseekso settingo asideo ofo theo judgmento datedo 28.01.2016o passedobyo theo learnedo Additionalo Sessionso Judge,o Pathankoto (foro short,o 'theo Appellateo Court'),owherebyotheoappealopreferredobyotheopetitioner-complainantoagainsto theoaforesaidojudgmentodatedo12.06.2014ocameotoobeodismissed.o o o o 2o o

2.o o Factsorelevantoforoadjudicationoofotheopresentopetitionoareothato theo petitioner,o beingo theo complainant,o goto registeredo FIRo No.140o datedo

28.12.2011ounderoSectionso448,o506oando34oIPCoatoPoliceoStationoDivisiono No.2,oPathankot.oInotheosaidoFIR,oitowasoallegedothatoduringotheointerveningo nightoofo24.12.2011oando25.12.2011,orespondentsoNo.o2oando3,oinofurtheranceo ofotheirocommonointention,ocommittedocriminalotrespassobyoforciblyoenteringo intootheoshopoofotheopetitioner-complainant,owhichowasostatedotoobeoinohiso possession,owithoanointentionotoothreatenoandocauseoinjuryotoohim.o

3.o o Aftero theo completiono ofo investigation,o challano waso presentedo andorespondentsoNo.2oando3owereoputotootrial.ooTheolearnedotrialoCourt,oupono appreciationoofotheoevidenceoonorecordoasoalsootheosubmissionsoadvancedobyo theo rivalo parties,o acquittedo respondentso No.2o ando 3,o video judgmento datedo

12.06.2014.oBeingoaggrievedobyotheosaidojudgmentoofoacquittal,otheopetitionero –ocomplainantohadopreferredoanoappealowhichocameotoobeodismissedobyotheo learnedoSessionsoJudgeovideojudgmentodatedo28.01.2016,otherebyoaffirmingo theofindingsorecordedobyotheotrialoCourt.o

3.1.o o Theopetitionero–ocomplainant,oaggrievedobyotheofindingsoofobotho theoCourtsobelow,ohasonowoinvokedotheorevisionalojurisdictionoofothisoCourt,o seekingosettingoasideoofotheoaforesaidojudgmentsopassedobyotheolearnedotrialo CourtoasoalsooSessionsoJudge.oHowever,oitoisowell-settledolawothatotheoscopeo oforevisionoisolimitedoandodoesonotoentailore-appreciationoofoevidenceounlesso thereoisoaomanifestoillegalityooroaoseriousomiscarriageoofojustice.oo

4.o o Theopetitionoinohandoseeksotooimpugnotheojudgmentoofoacquittalo passedobyotheolearnedoCourtsobelow.oHowever,oSectiono401o(3)oofoCr.oP.C.,o 1973,o imposeso ano explicito statutoryo prohibitiono againsto theo Higho Courto o o o 3o o convertingo ao findingo ofo acquittalo intoo ao convictiono ino exerciseo ofo itso revisionalo jurisdiction.o Theo issueo regardingo maintainability,o giveno thiso unequivocalostatusoembargo,owasodealtowithobyothisoCourtoinotheocaseoofo CRR-647-2023otitledoasoAjeetoSinghoversusoInderjeetoandoothers,odecidedoono

13.10.2025,owhereinoitowasoheldoasounder:o "7.1.o o Theo Higho Courto wieldso ao crucialo revisionalo jurisdictiono underoSectionso397oando401oofotheoCr.P.C./oSectionso438oando442oofotheo BNSS.o Thiso jurisdictiono iso fundamentallyo supervisoryo ino nature,o empoweringo theo superioro courtso too scrutinizeo theo recordso ofo anyo subordinateocriminalocourt.oTheoprimaryoobjectiveothereofoisotooascertaino theocorrectness,olegality,ooroproprietyoofoanyofinding,osentence,ooroordero passedo byo theo subordinateo court,o ando too ensureo theo regularityo ofo itso proceedings.o Theo legislativeo designo behindo theseo provisionso iso too vesto broadopowersoinotheorevisionalocourt(s).oThisoexpansiveolanguageoreflectsoao clearo intentiono too establisho ano effectiveo mechanismo foro rectifyingo anyo manifestoerror,oillegality,ooroimproprietyothatomayo haveooccurredoinotheo proceedingsobeforeoaosubordinateocourt.oInoessence,orevisionalojurisdictiono servesoasoaovitaloavenueoforoanoaggrievedoindividualotooseekoredressoagainsto anoerroneousoorderooroproceedingoofoaosubordinateocourt.oHowever,oevenoino thiso broado granto ofo power,o theo legislature,o ino itso wisdom,o haso imposedo specific,ocircumscribedolimitations.oTheorevisionalojurisdiction,omucholikeoao carefullyo calibratedo instrument,o iso explicitlyo unavailableo againsto interlocutoryoordersoand,ocrucially,oagainstoordersowhichoareoappealableoino nature.Ao furthero restrictiono placedo upono theo exerciseo ofo sucho revisionalo jurisdictionobyotheoHighoCourtoisoenvisagedounderoSectiono401(3)oofoCr.o P.C.―tootheoextentothatoaofindingoofoacquittalocannotobeoconvertedointoothato ofo conviction―therebyo renderingo theo petitionso ino hando aso non-maintainableoinotheopresentoform.oo

7.2.o o Pertinently,o theo petitionso ino handpreferredo byo theo complainantolayingochallengeotootheoacquittaloareogovernedobyoprovisootoo Sectiono 372o ofo Cr.o P.C.o Thus,o notwithstandingo theo statutoryo embargoo containedoinoSectiono401(3)oofoCr.oP.C.,otheolegaloframeoworkoprovidesoao mechanismotooaddressothisoproceduralolacunae―Sectiono401(5)oofoCr.oP.C.o actso aso ano enablingo provision,o empoweringo theo Higho Courto witho theo discretionotootreatoaorevisionopetitionoasoaoformaloappeal.oThisosalvagingo powero iso contingento upono theo Courto beingo satisfiedo thato theo revisiono petitiono haso beeno filedo undero theo erroneouso beliefo thato noo appealo waso availableoandothatosuchoaocorrectionoisonecessaryoinotheointerestoofojustice.o Tooruminateoonotheoaspectoofo'interestoofojustice',othisoCourtowillohaveotoo delveointootheomeritsoofotheopetitionsoinohand.oAoprofitableoreferenceoinothiso regard,ocanobeomadeotootheodictaopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofo IndiaoinocaseoofoMahabirovs.oStateoofoHaryana,o2025oINSCo120,owhereinoitoMahabirovs.oStateoofoHaryana 2025oINSCo120 isoheldoasounder:o "40.o ThisoCourtoinoJosephoStepheno&oOrs.ov.oSanthanasamyo&o Ors.oreportedoino(2022)o13oSCCo115,olaidodownothatoonoaoplaino readingoofosub-sectiono(3)oofoSectiono401oCrPC,oitohasotoobeoheldo thatosub-sectiono(3)oofoSectiono401oCrPCoprohibits/barsotheoHigho Courtotooconvertoaofindingoofoacquittalointoooneoofoconviction.o Parao10oreadsothus:-o "10.oApplyingotheolawolaidodownobyothisoCourtoinotheo aforesaidodecisionsoandoonoaoplainoreadingoofosub-sectiono

(3)oofoSectiono401CrPC,oitohasotoobeoheldothatosub-sectiono o o o 4o o

(3)oofoSectiono401CrPCoprohibits/barsotheoHighoCourtotoo converto ao findingo ofo acquittalo intoo oneo ofo conviction.o Thoughoandoasoobservedohereinoabove,otheoHighoCourto haso revisionalo powero too examineo whethero thereo iso manifestoerroroofolawooroprocedure,oetc.ohowever,oaftero givingoitsoownofindingsoonotheofindingsorecordedobyotheo courtoacquittingotheoaccusedoandoafterosettingoasideotheo orderoofoacquittal,otheoHighoCourtohasotooremitotheomattero tootheotrialocourtoand/orotheofirstoappellateocourt,oasotheo caseomayobe."o

41.oo ThisoCourtoinoJosephoStepheno(supra),oholdsothatofirst,otheo HighoCourtohasotoopassoaojudicialoorderotootreatoanoapplicationoforo revisiono aso petitiono ofo appeal.o Theo Higho Courto haso too passo ao judicialo ordero becauseo sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPCo providesothato ifo theo Higho Courtoiso satisfiedothato sucho revisiono applicationowasomadeounderotheoerroneousobeliefothatonooappealo liesotheretooandothatoitoisonecessaryoinotheointerestsoofojusticeosootoo do.oWhileotreatingotheoapplicationofororevisionoandotoodealowitho theosameoasoaopetitionoofoappeal,otheoHighoCourtohasotoorecordotheo satisfactiono aso providedo undero sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPC.oParao14oreadsothus:-o "14.oNowosoofaroasotheopowerotoobeoexercisedobyotheoHigho Courto undero sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPC,o namely,o theo Higho Courto mayo treato theo applicationo foro revisiono aso petitiono ofo appealo ando dealo witho theo sameo accordinglyoisoconcerned,ofirstlyotheoHighoCourtohasotoo passoaojudicialoorderotootreatotheoapplicationofororevisiono aso petitiono ofo appeal.o Theo Higho Courto haso too passo ao judicialo ordero becauseo sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPCo providesothato ifotheo Higho Courto iso satisfiedothato suchorevisionoapplicationowasomadeounderotheoerroneouso beliefothatonooappealoliesotheretooandothatoitoisonecessaryo inotheointerestsoofojusticeosootoodo.oWhileotreatingowitho theoapplicationofororevisionoasopetitionoofoappealoandodealo withotheosameoaccordingly,otheoHighoCourtohasotoorecordo theo satisfactiono aso providedo undero sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono401oCrPC.oTherefore,owhereounderotheoCrPCoano appealo lies,o buto ano applicationo foro revisiono haso beeno madeotootheoHighoCourtobyoanyoperson,otheoHighoCourto hasojurisdictionotootreatotheoapplicationofororevisionoasoao petitionoofoappealoandodealowithotheosameoaccordinglyoaso pero sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 401o CrPC,o however,o subjectotootheoHighoCourtobeingosatisfiedothatosuchoano applicationowasomadeounderotheoerroneousobeliefothatonoo appealoliesotheretooandothatoitoisonecessaryoinotheointerestso ofojusticeosootoodooandoforothatopurposeotheoHighoCourto hasotoopassoaojudicialoorder,omayobeoaoformaloorder,otoo treatotheoapplicationofororevisionoasoaopetitionoofoappealo andodealowithotheosameoaccordingly."o o o o InoviewoofotheodictaopassedoinoMahabiro(supra),oforotreatingo petitionsoinohandoasoappeal(s)obyotheocomplainant,othisoCourtoisoboundotoo recordoaosatisfactionothatoitoisonecessaryotoodoosooinotheo'interestoofojustice'.o Inoorderotoorecordoanyosuchosatisfaction,othisocourtohasotoogoointootheomeritso ofotheogroundsoputoforthoonobehalfoofotheopetitioneroseekingotoochallengeo theoimpugnedojudgmentoofoacquittal."o o o o Thiso Courtohas,o thus,o proceededo too adjudicateo theo petitiono ino o o o 5o o

5.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoarguedothatotheoimpugnedo judgmentsopassedobyotheoCourtsobelowoareoperverse,ocontraryotootheoevidenceo availableo ono recordo ando suffero fromo misreadingo ando non-appreciationo ofo materialoevidence.oItohasobeenocontendedothatotheopetitioner-complainantowaso inopossessionoofotheoshopoinoquestionoasoaotenantoandoalthoughoanoejectmento petitiono hado earliero beeno filedo byo theo previouso landlord,o theo sameo waso subsequentlyowithdrawn.oThereafter,otheoshopowasosoldotooSantoshoKumar,o wifeoofoBaldevoRajo(respondentoNo.2oherein).oLearnedocounselohasosubmittedo thatotheopetitionerohadoinstitutedoaocivilosuitobeforeotheolearnedoCiviloJudgeo (SenioroDivision),oPathankotoseekingoinjunctionoagainstotheovendor,ovendeeo ando respondento No.2o fromo interferingo ino hiso possessiono oro forciblyo dispossessingohimofromotheoshopoinoquestion,owhereinointerimoprotectionowaso alsoograntedoinohisofavour.oItohasobeenofurtherocontendedothatotheodefenceoseto upobyotheoprivateorespondentsothatoanooralosettlementohadoallegedlyotakeno placeoono24.12.2011,opursuantowheretooanoamountoofoRs.50,000/-owasopaidotoo theo petitionero ando vacanto possessiono ofo theo shopo waso voluntarilyo handedo over,oremainedowhollyounsubstantiatedoasononeoofotheorespondentsoenteredo theowitnessoboxotooproveotheoallegedocompromise,otherebyo warrantingoano adverseoinferenceoagainstothem.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatotheolearnedo Civilo Court,o whileo decreeingo theo suito video judgmento ando decreeo datedo

13.08.2015,o specificallyo recordedo ao findingo thato possessiono ofo theo suito propertyoremainedowithotheopetitioneroandoalsoorejectedotheopleaoofovoluntaryo handingooveroofopossessionopursuantotooanyosettlement.oItohasofurtherobeeno arguedothatotheoprivateorespondentsohadoearlierochallengedotheoorderodatedo

18.12.2013opassedobyotheolearnedoSessionsoJudgeobyofilingoCR-2227-2014o o o o 6o o beforeo thiso Court,o however,o theo sameo waso dismissedo video ordero datedo

10.11.2014owhileoobservingothatothereowasonooevidenceoregardingoanyooralo settlementoorovoluntaryodeliveryoofopossessionoandothatotheoregistrationoofo FIRoNo.140odatedo28.12.2011oonotheoveryonextodayoitselfocreatedodoubtoovero theo allegedo compromise.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero submittedo thato theo petitionero hado specificallyo allegedo ino theo FIRo thato duringo theo interveningo nighto ofo 24/25.12.2011,o theo privateo respondents,o ino furtheranceo ofo theiro commono intention,o committedo criminalo trespasso byo enteringo intoo theo premiseso ino possessiono ofo theo petitionero witho intento too dispossesso ando threateno him.o Ito haso beeno arguedo thato despiteo theo defenceo ofo voluntaryo deliveryoofopossessionoalreadyohavingobeenonegatedobyotheocompetentoCivilo CourtoasowelloasobyothisoCourt,otheoCourtsobelowoerroneouslyoignoredotheosaido materialo findingso ando acquittedo theo respondentso ono whollyo untenableo grounds.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero submittedo thato theo observationo regardingodelayoinolodgingotheoFIRoisofactuallyoincorrectoasotheoFIRowaso admittedlyo registeredo ono theo veryo nexto dayo ofo theo occurrence,o therebyo falsifyingotheopleaoofovoluntaryosettlement.oItohasothusobeenocontendedothato theo Courtso belowo ignoredo materialo evidenceo establishingo forcibleo dispossessiono ofo theo petitionero ando reliedo upono irrelevanto considerations,o resultingoinograveomiscarriageoofojustice.oAccordingly,oitohasobeenoprayedothato theoimpugnedojudgments/orders,obeingopatentlyoillegaloandoperverse,odeserveo toobeosetoaside.o

6.oo o Learnedo Stateo counsel,o whileo raisingo submissionso ino tandemo witho theo submissionso raisedo byo learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero –o complainantohasosubmittedothatodespiteotheostayoorderooperatingoinofavouroofo o o o 7o o theo petitionero –o complainant,o whoo waso ao tenant,o privateo respondentso hado forciblyotakenopossessionoofotheoshopoinodispute.oItowasofurtheroarguedothato althougho theo privateo respondentso soughto too seto upo ao defenceo thato theo complainantohadovoluntarilyohandedooverovacantopossessionoofotheoshopoino questionotoothem,onoosuchopleaowasoraisedoinotheirostatementorecordedoundero Sectiono313oCr.P.C.oPrivateorespondentsoalsoofailedotoospecifyotheopersonsoino whoseopresenceopossessionowasoallegedlyodelivered.oItohasobeenoassertedothato theonameoofoDW-1oYogeshoKumar,oorotheoallegedodateoandocircumstancesoofo deliveryo ofo possession,o wereo nevero puto too theo complainanto duringo cross-examination.oItowasoadditionallyosubmittedothatoevenothoughoDW-1oYogesho Kumaro waso examinedo too supportotheopleao thato possessiono ofo theo shopoino questionohadobeenohandedooverotootheoprivateorespondentouponopaymentoofo Rs.50,000/-,o sucho ao defenceo findso noo mentiono ino theo statutoryo statemento underoSectiono313oCr.P.C.oOnotheseosubmissions,oitohasobeenoarguedothatotheo impugnedo judgmentso ofo theo Courtso belowo requireo interferenceo ando theo petitionoinohandodeservesotoobeogranted.oo

7.o o Onotheootherohand,olearnedocounseloappearingofororespondentso No.2oando3ohasoarguedothatotheofindingsorecordedobyotheoCourtsobelowoareo neitheroperverseonorocontraryotootheoevidenceoavailableoonorecordoandodoonoto suffero fromo anyo misreadingo oro non-appreciationo ofo materialo evidenceo warrantingointerferenceobyothisoCourtoinoexerciseooforevisionalojurisdiction.o Learnedo counselo haso contendedo thato theo petitioner-complainanto hado voluntarilyohandedooveropossessionoofotheoshopoinoquestionotootheoprivateo respondentsoono24.12.2011opursuantotooanooralosettlementoarrivedoatobetweeno theopartiesoandohadoalsooreceivedoanoamountoofoRs.50,000/-oinocashoinotheo o o o 8o o presenceo ofo independento witnesses.o Ito haso beeno furthero arguedo thato theo prosecutiono versiono iso renderedodoubtfulo ino viewo ofo theo unexplainedo ando unreasonableodelayoonotheopartoofotheopetitioner-complainantoinoapproachingo theo policeo authorities.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero submittedo thato noo independentowitnessohasobeenoexaminedobyotheoprosecutionoinosupportoofoitso allegationsoandoallotheowitnessesoexaminedoareointerestedowitnessesocloselyo associatedowithotheopetitioner-complainant.oItohasoalsoobeenocontendedothato bothotheolearnedotrialoCourtoasowelloasotheolearnedoAppellateoCourt,oafterodueo appreciationoofotheooraloasowelloasodocumentaryoevidenceobroughtoonorecord,o haveoconcurrentlyoreturnedofindingsoofoacquittaloinofavourooforespondentso No.2oando3oandotheosaidofindings,obeingobasedouponoproperoappreciationoofo evidence,odoonotocalloforoanyointerferenceobyothisoCourt.oOnotheostrengthoofo theseosubmissions,olearnedocounselohasoprayedoforodismissaloofotheopresento revisionopetition.o

8.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheorecordoavailableoonocaseofile.oo

9.oo o Concededly,o theo petitioner-complainanto waso ino possessiono ofo theoshopoinoquestionoasoaotenant,owhereasotheoprivateorespondentsowereotheo landlordsothereof.oItoisoalsoonotoinodisputeothatotheopetitionerohadoinstitutedoao civilo suito seekingo injunctiono restrainingo theo privateo respondentso fromo interferingoinohisopossessionooroforciblyodispossessingohimofromotheodemisedo premisesoandovideointerimoorderodatedo06.12.2011,otheolearnedoCiviloCourto hadorestrainedotheoprivateorespondentsofromointerferingoinotheopossessionoofo theo petitioner-complainant.o However,o upono appreciationo ofo theo evidenceo broughtoonorecord,otheolearnedotrialoCourtoreturnedofindingsoofoacquittaloino o o o 9o o favouro ofo respondentso No.2o ando 3o byo noticingo variouso materialo contradictions,oinconsistenciesoandoinfirmitiesoinotheoprosecutionocase.oo

9.1.o o Theo learnedo trialo Courto observedo thato PW-1o Amano Bhallao (petitioner-complainant)o madeo contradictoryo statementso regardingo theo manneroandotimingoinowhichoheocameotooknowoaboutotheoallegedooccurrenceo aso alsoo regardingo submissiono ofo theo applicationo too theo police.o Theo dateso mentionedo ino applicationo Ex.PBo wereo alsoo foundo inconsistento witho theo prosecutiono version.o Ito waso furthero noticedo thato althougho theo prosecutiono allegedopresenceoofoseveralopersonsoatotheospot,onooindependentowitnessowaso examinedowithoutoanyoplausibleoexplanation.oo

9.2.o o TheotestimonyoofoPW-2oSukhwinderoBhallaowasoalsoofoundotoo suffero fromo materialo contradictions.o Whileo sheo statedo thato sheo ando hero husbandohadowitnessedotheoprivateorespondentsoremovingoarticlesofromotheo shopoandolockingoit,osheosimultaneouslyoassertedothatonobodyogatheredoatotheo spotodespiteoheroraisingoalarm,owhereasoPW-1ostatedothatoseveralopersonsohado assembledo there.o Similarly,o contradictionso wereo noticedo regardingo theo presenceoofotheocomplainantoatotheospotoandotheosequenceoofoeventsonarratedo byotheowitnesses.oTheotestimonyoofoPW-3oHarbansoSinghowasolikewiseofoundo toocontainomaterialoimprovementsoandoinconsistenciesovis-à-visotheoversiono ofo theo complainanto ando theo contentso ofo applicationo Ex.PB.o Heo allegedo breakingoofolocksoandopresenceoofoseveralopersons,ofactsowhichodidonotofindo mentionoeitheroinotheostatementoofoPW-2ooroinoEx.PBoitself.oo

9.3.o o Theo learnedo trialo Courto furthero noticedo contradictionso ino theo testimonyoofoPW-5oASIoKewaloKrishanoregardingoreceiptoofotheocomplainto andoobservedothatotheoallegedooccurrenceodatedo24.12.2011owasoreportedotoo o o o 10o o theo policeo onlyo ono 28.12.2011o withouto anyo satisfactoryo explanation.o Theo Courtoheldothatosuchodelayodeprivedotheoprosecutionocaseoofospontaneityoando raisedopossibilityoofodeliberationooroembellishment.oItowasoalsoonoticedothato althoughotheopetitioneroallegedoforcibleodispossessionoono24/25.12.2011,onoo immediateoapplicationofororestorationoofopossessionowasomovedobeforeotheo CiviloCourtodespiteotheorespondentsohavingoappearedothereinoono04.01.2012o ando theo applicationo seekingo mandatoryo injunctiono waso filedo onlyo ono

27.01.2012o aftero considerableo delay.o Theo trialo Courto alsoo drewo adverseo inferenceofromotheonon-examinationoofotheodaughteroofoPW-2oandoPW-3,o whoseohouseotheyoallegedlyovisitedoimmediatelyopriorotootheooccurrence.oo

9.4.o o Thus,otheotrialoCourtoafterofindingothatothereowereodiscrepancieso andovariationsoinotheostatementsoofotheoprosecutionowitnesses,oandotheosameo casto doubto ino theo prosecutiono version,o acquittedo theo privateo respondentso (herein)obyogivingothemobenefitoofodoubt.oo

9.5.o o Further,ouponochallengeotootheoaforesaidojudgmentoofotheotrialo Court,o learnedo Sessionso Judgeo alsoo dismissedo theo appealo ando upheldo theo judgmento passedo byo theotrialo Court.o Learnedo SessionsoJudgeo observedo aso under:o "15.oo Afterotakingointooconsiderationotheooraloevidenceoi.e.oexamination-in-chiefo ando cross-examinationoofotheo witnessesothereoareodiscrepancieso andomaterialovariationsoinotheostatementsoofoprosecutionowitnessesowhicho causeofatalotootheostoryoofoprosecution.oTheodelayoinolodgingotheoFIRohaso notobeenoexplainedobyotheocomplainantothatowhyoheodidonotoreportedotheo matterotootheopoliceoatotheoearliest.oTheoprosecutionoremainedomiserablyo failedo too explaino theo delayo wheno theo allegedo occurrenceo tooko placeo ono

24.12.2011oato11.30otoo11.45op.m.oandomatterohasobeenoreportedotootheo policeoono28.12.2011.oTheodiscrepanciesoinotheostatementsoofowitnessesoareo materialo ino natureo whicho createso doubto ino theo storyo ofo prosecutiono ando benefitoofotheosameoshouldobeogivenotootheoaccused.oLearnedoTrialoCourto afteroappreciatingotheocorroborativeoandoconvincingoevidenceohasocomeotoo theorightoconclusionobyogivingobenefitoofodoubtotootheorespondents/accused.o Thusothisocourtofindonooirregularityoandoillegalityoinotheojudgmentopassedo byotheolearnedolowerocourt."o o o o o 11o o

10.o o Atothisojuncture,oitoisoimperativeotooreiterateotheosettledolegalo positiono governingo theo scopeo ando ambito ofo revisionalo jurisdictiono undero Sectionso 397o reado witho 401o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973,o particularlyowhileoexaminingotheocorrectnessoofoanoorderoofoacquittal.oItoiso triteolawothatotheoRevisionaloCourtodoesonotofunctionoasoaoregularoCourtoofo Appealo andotheo powerso exercisableoino revisiono areosignificantlyo narrowero thano thoseo availableo ino appellateo jurisdiction.o Theo objecto ofo revisionalo jurisdictiono iso primarilyo too satisfyo theo Courto regardingo theo legality,o correctnessoandoproprietyoofotheofindings,osentenceooroorderopassedobyotheo subordinateoCourtoandotooensureothatothereohasobeenonoomiscarriageoofojusticeo ono accounto ofo anyo patento illegality,o jurisdictionalo erroro oro materialo irregularityoinoprocedure.o

10.1.o o Ito iso equallyo wello settledo thato interferenceo witho ano ordero ofo acquittaloinorevisionalojurisdictionoisotoobeoexercisedosparingly,ocautiouslyo andoonlyoinoexceptionalocircumstances.oTheoRevisionaloCourtoisonotoexpectedo tooundertakeoaofreshoororovingore-appreciationoofotheoentireoevidenceomerelyo becauseoanotheroviewoisopossibleoonotheobasisoofotheomaterialoavailableoono record.oWhereotwooviewsoareoreasonablyopossibleoandotheotrialoCourtohaso adoptedo oneo sucho plausibleo view,o theo Revisionalo Courto oughto noto too substituteo itso owno opiniono merelyo becauseo ito mayo beo inclinedo too takeo ao differentoviewoono appreciationo ofo evidence.o Theo revisionalo powero cano beo invokedoonlyowhereothereoexistsoaoglaringodefectoinoprocedure,omanifestoerroro ofolaw,oflagrantomiscarriageoofojusticeooropalpableoperversityoinoappreciationo ofo evidence.o Unlesso theo conclusionso arrivedo ato byo theo Courtso belowo areo demonstratedotoobeoarbitrary,ocapriciousoorowhollyounsustainableoinolaw,otheo o o o 12o o RevisionaloCourtowouldorefrainofromointerferingowithoconcurrentofindingsoofo fact,oparticularlyowhenotheosameoareofoundedouponoappreciationoofooraloando documentaryoevidenceoadducedoduringotrial.o

11.o o Accordingly,o theo presento criminalo revisiono beingo devoido ofo meritoisodismissed,oaccordingly.o

12.o o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.oo o o o o o o o o o o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooJUDGEo Mayo11,o2026o mahaviro o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo