State Of Gujarat vs Karsan Bhimabhai Gohil on 29 April, 2026

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    Gujarat High Court

    State Of Gujarat vs Karsan Bhimabhai Gohil on 29 April, 2026

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                              R/CR.A/1532/2009                                        CAV JUDGMENT DATED: 29/04/2026
    
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                                                                                  Reserved On   : 15/04/2026
                                                                                  Pronounced On : 29/04/2026
    
                                         IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
    
                                                  R/CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1532 of 2009
    
    
                           FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:
    
    
                           HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER
                           ==========================================================
    
                                        Approved for Reporting                        Yes            No
    
                           ==========================================================
                                                          STATE OF GUJARAT
                                                                Versus
                                                     KARSAN BHIMABHAI GOHIL & ORS.
                           ==========================================================
                           Appearance:
                           MS SHRUTI PATHAK, APP for the Appellant(s) No. 1
                           HCLS COMMITTEE(4998) for the Opponent(s)/Respondent(s) No. 1
                           MR. JAY G THAKER(9944) for the Opponent(s)/Respondent(s) No. 1,2,3
                           ==========================================================
    
                              CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER
    
    
                                                               CAV JUDGMENT
    

    1. Feeling aggrieved by and dissatisfied with the

    judgment and order of acquittal dated 30.05.2009, passed by

    SPONSORED

    the learned Additional Sessions Judge, in Sessions Case

    No.30 of 2008, for the offences punishable under Sections

    323, 325, 504, 506(2) and 114 of the Indian Penal Code and

    Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act, the appellant – State

    of Gujarat has preferred this appeal under Section 378 of the

    Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short, “the Code”).

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    2. The prosecution case as unfolded during the trial

    before the lower Court is that on 13.03.2007 at about 12:00

    hours, near Khandeka Dam, the accused, by making unlawful

    assembly and in collusion with each other, due to land

    issues, exchanged hot words with the complainant, assaulted

    him with iron pipe and wooden stick, fractured on the hands

    and legs, threatened him to kill him and abused on his caste

    and thereby committed an offence as alleged. Therefore, the

    complaint was lodged against the respondent-accused.

    3. After investigation, sufficient prima facie evidence

    was found against the accused person/s and therefore charge-

    sheet was filed in the competent criminal Court. Since the

    offence alleged against the accused person/s was exclusively

    triable by the Court of Sessions, the learned Magistrate
    committed the case to the Sessions Court where it came to

    be registered as Sessions Case No.30 of 2008. The charge

    was framed against the accused person/s. The accused

    pleaded not guilty and came to be tried.

    4.1 In order to bring home the charge, the prosecution

    has examined 11 witnesses before the trial Court, which are

    described in the impugned judgment, which are as under :

                                    Sr.                        Particulars                             Exh.
    
    
    
    
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                              R/CR.A/1532/2009                                       CAV JUDGMENT DATED: 29/04/2026
    
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                                    No.                                                                   No.
    
                                     1.    Arjan Kama Gohil                                               11
    
                                     2.    Arjan Gokal Meriya                                             14
    
                                     3.    Abdul Ibrahim Siddiq                                           15
    
                                     4.    Vershi Bhoja Dodiya                                            19
    
                                     5.    Osman Ibrahim                                                  20
    
                                     6.    Maheshpuri Zaverpuri Goswami                                   21
    
                                     7.    Martaji Shakraji Ninama                                        24
    
                                     8.    Nitesh Pratapray Pandya                                        25
    
                                     9.    Kanaiylal Shakrabhai Amin                                      27
    
                                    10. Dr. Devendragiri Kirtigiri Gosai                                  34
    
                                    11. Dr. Kishor Asumal Lalchandani                                     43
    
    
    
                           4.2               The      prosecution     has        produced     7     documentary
    
    

    evidence before the trial Court, which are described in the
    impugned judgment, which are as under :

                                     Sr.                         Particulars                             Exh.
    
                                     No.                                                                  No.
    
                                      1.   Complaint                                                      23
    
                                      2.   Panchanama of scene of offence                                 12
    
                                      3.   Arrest Panchanama                                              13
    
                                      4.   Yadi for lodging offence                                       22
    
                                      5.   Weapon Prohibition Notification                                26
    
    
    
    
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                                      6.   MLC Certificate                                                    35
    
                                      7.   Injury Certificate                                               44, 45
    
                                                                                                            & 46
    
    
    
    
    

    5. After hearing both the parties and after analysis

    of evidence adduced by the prosecution, the learned trial

    Judge acquitted the accused for the offences for which the

    charge was framed, by holding that the prosecution has failed

    to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

    6. Learned APP for the appellant – State has

    pointed out the facts of the case and having taken this Court

    through both, oral and documentary evidence, recorded before

    the learned trial Court, would submit that the learned trial

    Court has failed to appreciate the evidence in true sense and

    perspective; and that the trial Court has committed error in

    acquitting the accused. It is submitted that the learned trial

    Court ought not to have given much emphasis to the

    contradictions and/or omissions appearing in the evidence and

    ought to have given weightage to the dots that connect the

    accused with the offence in question. It is submitted that

    the learned trial Court has erroneously come to the

    conclusion that the prosecution has failed to prove its case. It

    is also submitted that the learned Judge ought to have seen

    that the evidence produced on record is reliable and

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    believable and it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that

    the accused had committed an offence in question. It is,

    therefore, submitted that this Court may allow this appeal by

    appreciating the evidence led before the learned trial Court.

    7. As against that, learned advocate for the

    respondent/s would support the impugned judgment passed by

    the learned trial Court and has submitted that the learned

    trial Court has not committed any error in acquitting the

    accused. The trial Court has taken possible view as the

    prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable

    doubt. Therefore, it is prayed to dismiss the present appeal

    by confirming the impugned judgment and order passed by

    the learned trial Court.

    8. In the aforesaid background, considering the oral

    as well as documentary evidence on record, independently and

    dispassionately and considering the impugned judgment and

    order of the trial Court, the following aspects weighed with

    the Court :

    8.1 The prosecution has mainly relied on the

    complaint, which is produced vide Exh.23, wherein the

    complainant – Abdul Ibrahim Siddiq stated that on

    13.03.2007 at 11.00 a.m., when he, along with his brother

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    Osman, were going towards their field at that time, son of

    Bhimabhai Jetha, whose name he did not know, along with

    him, there was a lady, whom also he did not know, and

    other two unknown persons were there. At that time, all the

    aforesaid four people had come towards the complainant and

    his brother – Osman and the aforesaid unknown four persons

    had threatened the complainant and his brother as to why

    they had come at the field as the said field belongs to them

    and why they should come to the said field; at that time,

    the complainant and his brother informed that the said field

    belongs to them and that they will come over there; and that

    thereafter the aforesaid unknown four people got excited and

    started abusing the complainant, to which, the complainant

    stopped them from abusing, but at that moment, the

    complainant was assaulted with iron tommy and the wooden
    stick (a thick wooden stick) on his left hand wrist, on the

    left hand side of his head, right hand fist and on left leg. At

    that time, his brother – Osman intervened and thereafter the

    aforesaid four persons gave threats to his life. Thereafter, the

    complainant was sent to the hospital for treatment and the

    complaint was filed when the complainant was in the

    hospital.

    8.2 The complainant – Abdul Ibrahim Siddiq has been

    examined as P.W.3, vide Exh.15, wherein he states that on

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    the day of the incident, he, along with his brother – Osman,

    had gone to his field and over there, accused No.2 –

    Rameshbhai Bhurabhai Karia, along with Lakhubhai

    Bhimabhai, was present and there was one another lady, who

    is a wife of Lakhubhai Bhimabhai, were there; and that they

    were putting fence on the said property; and that the

    complainant asked them as to why they were placing fence,

    at that time, the aforesaid Rameshbhai Bhurabhai Karia

    (accused No.2) and Lakhubhai Bhimabhai and that unknown

    lady, who is a wife of Lakhubhai Bhimabhai, had stated that

    the complainant that he had got to do nothing with the said

    field and so saying, they started assaulting the complainant.

    Accused No.2 – Rameshbhai Bhurabhai Karia had assaulted

    the complainant with an iron pipe on the left hand and he

    also assaulted with a stick on the right hand and left leg.
    Lakhubhai Bhimabhai had assaulted the complainant on the

    shoulder. At that time, the brother of the complainant viz.,

    Osman intervened and accused No.2 had threatened the

    complainant’s life. The fact remains that the name of

    Lakhubhai Bhimabhai is not stated in the complaint and in

    the complaint, the complainant talks about being assaulted

    with iron tommy and wooden log. In the deposition before

    the Court, he states that accused No.2 had assaulted him

    with a pipe and stick. Therefore, there is clear contradictions

    in the statement given by the complainant at the time of

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    filing the complaint and deposition before the Court with

    respect to the weapon that was allegedly used at the time of

    the offence.

    Moreover, in the complaint, the complainant states

    that he was not knowing as to who the said persons were

    and who had assaulted him; and that who were the four

    persons who had assaulted him, but in the deposition before

    the Court, the complainant states that he has been assaulted

    by three persons and had given the name of accused No.2 –

    Rameshbhai, Lakhubhaibhai Bhimabhaibhai and wife of

    Lakhubhaibhai Bhimabhaibhai.

    8.3 The brother of the complainant viz., Osman

    Ibrahim, who is alleged to be present with the complainant

    at the time of offence, has been examined as P.W.5, vide
    Exh.20. He has, in his deposition, stated that at the time of

    the alleged offence, he was present with the complainant and

    accused No.1 – Karshan Bhimabhaibhai Gohil was holding a

    pipe and accused No.2 – Rameshbhai was holding a stick and

    accused No.1 – Karshanbhai has assaulted the complainant

    with a pipe on his head and accused No.2 – Rameshbhai has

    assaulted the complainant with a stick on his hand, on his

    shoulder and on the legs. He has also stated that the police

    had taken his statement and they had initially gone to

    Vagad Welfare Hospital at Rapar and thereafter had gone to

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    Bhachau. He has also stated that the field i.e. place of

    offence, has already been sold by him. He does not have any

    document to prove that the said property belongs to him and

    he has also stated that the complaint was taken at Rapar

    Government Hospital and the said complaint was given by

    his brother i.e. the complainant (Abdul Ibrahim Siddiq); and

    that he was present at the time when the said complaint

    was taken; and that he and his brother i.e. the complainant

    – both had narrated the facts in the said complaint. He has

    stated that from his birth, he has stayed at Village : Rapar;

    and that the accused are also staying at the same village;

    and that he knew the accused even before the alleged

    incident. He has also denied the fact that at the time when

    the said complaint was mentioned, the names of any accused

    were not given by them.

    If his deposition is taken into consideration, the

    said deposition is contrary to what has been stated in the

    complaint. In the complaint, the complainant stated that four

    unknown persons were present at the time of incident, who

    had assaulted him; and that though, as per his version, at

    the time of offence, accused No.2 – Rameshbhai,

    Lakhubhaibhai Bhimabhaibhai and wife of Lakhubhaibhai

    Bhimabhaibhai were present, he does not give the name of

    Lakhubhai Bhimabhai.

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    8.4 The prosecution has thereafter produced the

    panchanama of scene of offence vide Exh.12 and the arrest

    panchanama vide Exh.13.

    The panch witness – Arjanbhai Kamabhai Gohil,

    who was the panch witness of panchanama at Exhs.12 and

    13, has been examined as P.W.1, vide Exh.11. He has turned

    hostile and has not supported the case of the prosecution.

    The prosecution has examined Arjanbhai Gokalbhai

    Meriya as P.W.2, vide Exh.14, who was the panch witness of

    the panchanama of scene of offence. He has also turned

    hostile and has not supported the case of the prosecution.

    The prosecution has also examined Vershibhai

    Bhojabhai Dodiya, who was the panch witness of panchanama

    at Exh.13 i.e. the arrest panchanama. He has turned hostile

    and has not supported the case of the prosecution.

    8.5 The prosecution has examined the Head Constable

    viz., Maheshpuri Zaverpuri Goswami as P.W.6, vide Exh.21,

    who had taken the statement of the complainant in the

    hospital, which is produced vide Exh.22.

    The prosecution has examined Martaji Shakraji

    Ninama, A.S.I., Rapar, as P.W.7, vide Exh.24, to whom the

    doctor has given the telephonic intimation.

    The officer working at the Collector Office viz.,

    Nitish Pratapbhai Pandya has been examined as P.W.8, vide

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    Exh.25 with respect to the notification under the Bombay

    Police Act, which is produced vide Exh.26.

    The Investigating Officer i.e. the Dy.S.P.- in-charge

    of Bhachau Division viz., Kanaiylal Shakrabhai Amin has

    been examined as P.W.9, vide Exh.27. In his deposition, he

    has stated that in the complaint, it is stated that four

    persons had assaulted the complainant, but at the time of

    investigation, it transpires that the assault was by using an

    iron tommy as a weapon and it is also true that the alleged

    weapon has not been recovered. He has also stated that the

    complainant has sold the land to one Naranbhai

    Mahadevbhai; and that on the date of the incident, the

    complainant did not own any land; and that the land, on

    which the alleged offence took place, was given to the

    brother of the accused for cultivation. He has also stated
    that the complaint under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled

    Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been filed by the

    accused against the complainant; and that under his

    investigation, it was also found that the complainant had

    assaulted the accused by pelting stones; and that the

    complainant had trespassed on the field in question.

    8.6 The Medical Officer, CHC Rapar viz.,

    Dr.Devendragiri Kirtigiri Gosai has been examined as P.W.10,

    vide Exh.34. The history given by the complainant to the

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    said doctor states that he was assaulted by the stone and a

    stick. The certificate to that effect has been produced vide

    Exh.35; and that the names of the accused were not given to

    the said doctor.

    The prosecution has thereafter examined Dr.Kishor

    Ashumal Lalchandani as P.W.11, vide Exh.43, who was the

    Medical Officer at Vagad Welfare Hospital. The complainant

    also does not give the names of the accused to the said

    doctor. The certificate issued by the said doctor is produced

    vide Exh.44.

    It has also come on the record that the

    complainant was admitted for 15-20 days in the said hospital

    for treatment. The history given to the said doctor was that

    the complainant was assaulted by a stick and by an iron

    pipe. Therefore, there are lot of contradictions in the evidence
    that has been presented by the prosecution. The complainant

    in the complaint states that he has been assaulted by an

    iron tommy and by a stick, by unknown persons. In his

    deposition, he has stated that he has been assaulted by

    accused No.2 – Rameshbhai with an iron pipe and a stick.

    The brother of the complainant, who has been examined as

    P.W.5 (Exh.20) states that accused No.1 – Karshanbhai

    assaulted the complainant with a pipe and accused No.2 had

    assaulted the complainant with a stick. The Medical Officer

    who has been examined as P.W.10 (Exh.34) states that the

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    history given to the said doctor stated that the complainant

    was assaulted by pelting stones and by a stick; and that

    the history given to the Medical Officer at Vagad Welfare

    Hospital (P.W.11, vide Exh.43) states that the complainant

    was assaulted with a stick and with an iron pipe. Therefore,

    there are lot of contradictions in the statements given by the

    complainant, and the prosecution has not been able to prove

    that any such incident had taken place. Moreover, though the

    complainant states the name of Lakhubhai Bhimabhai, who

    was allegedly present at the time of offence, no offence

    against the said person is registered.

    9. Further, learned APP is not in a position to show

    any evidence to take a contrary view in the matter or that

    the approach of the Court below is vitiated by some manifest
    illegality or that the decision is perverse or that the Court

    below has ignored the material evidence on record. In above

    view of the matter, I am of the considered opinion that the

    Court below was completely justified in passing impugned

    judgment and order.

    10. Considering the impugned judgment, the trial

    Court has recorded that there was no direct evidence

    connecting the accused with the incident and there are

    contradictions in the depositions of the prosecution witnesses.

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    In absence of the direct evidence, it cannot be proved that

    the accused are involved in the offence. Further, the motive

    of the accused behind the incident is not established. The

    trial Court has rightly considered all the evidence on record

    and passed the impugned judgment. The trial Court has

    rightly evaluated the facts and the evidence on record.

    11. It is also a settled legal position that in acquittal

    appeal, the appellate court is not required to re-write the

    judgment or to give fresh reasoning, when the reasons

    assigned by the Court below are found to be just and proper.

    Such principle is down by the Apex Court in the case of

    State of Karnataka Vs. Hemareddy, reported in AIR 1981 SC

    1417 wherein it is held as under:

    “… This court has observed in Girija Nandini Devi
    V. Bigendra Nandini Chaudhary (1967)1 SCR 93:

    (AIR 1967 SC 1124) that it is not the duty of the
    appellate court when it agrees with the view of the
    trial court on the evidence to repeat the narration
    of the evidence or to reiterate the reasons given by
    the trial court expression of general agreement with
    the reasons given by the Court the decision of
    which is under appeal, will ordinarily suffice.”

    12. Thus, in case the appellate court agrees with the

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    reasons and the opinion given by the lower court, then the

    discussion of evidence at length is not necessary.

    13. In the case of Ram Kumar v. State of Haryana,

    reported in AIR 1995 SC 280, Supreme Court has held as

    under:

    “The powers of the High Court in an appeal from
    order of acquittal to reassess the evidence and
    reach its own conclusions under Sections 378 and
    379, Cr.P.C. are as extensive as in any appeal
    against the order of conviction. But as a rule of
    prudence, it is desirable that the High Court should
    give proper weight and consideration to the view of
    the Trial Court with regard to the credibility of the
    witness, the presumption of innocence in favour of
    the accused, the right of the accused to the benefit
    of any doubt and the slowness of appellate Court in
    justifying a finding of fact arrived at by a Judge
    who had the advantage of seeing the witness. It is
    settled law that if the main grounds on which the
    lower Court has based its order acquitting the
    accused are reasonable and plausible, and the same
    cannot entirely and effectively be dislodged or

    demolished, the High Court should not disturb

    the order of acquittal.”

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    14. As observed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the

    case of Rajesh Singh & Others vs. State of Uttar Pradesh

    reported in (2011) 11 SCC 444 and in the case of

    Bhaiyamiyan Alias Jardar Khan and Another vs. State of
    Madhya Pradesh
    reported in (2011) 6 SCC 394, while dealing
    with the judgment of acquittal, unless reasoning by the trial

    Court is found to be perverse, the acquittal cannot be upset.

    It is further observed that High Court’s interference in such

    appeal in somewhat circumscribed and if the view taken by

    the trial Court is possible on the evidence, the High Court

    should stay its hands and not interfere in the matter in the

    belief that if it had been the trial Court, it might have

    taken a different view.

    15. In the case of Chandrappa v. State of Karnataka,

    reported in (2007) 4 SCC 415, the Hon’ble Apex Court has

    observed as under:

    “42. From the above decisions, in our
    considered view, the following general
    principles regarding powers of the appellate
    court while dealing with an appeal against
    an order of acquittal emerge:

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    (1) An appellate court has full power to
    review, reappreciate and reconsider the
    evidence upon which the order of acquittal
    is founded.

    (2) The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 puts
    no limitation, restriction or condition on
    exercise of such power and an appellate
    court on the evidence before it may reach
    its own conclusion, both on questions of fact
    and of law.

    (3) Various expressions, such as, “substantial
    and compelling reasons”, “good and sufficient
    grounds”, “very strong circumstances”,
    “distorted conclusions”, “glaring mistakes”,
    etc. are not intended to curtail extensive
    powers of an appellate court in an appeal
    against acquittal. Such phraseologies are
    more in the nature of “flourishes of
    language” to emphasise the reluctance of an
    appellate court to interfere with acquittal
    than to curtail the power of the court to
    review the evidence and to come to its own
    conclusion.

    (4) An appellate court, however, must bear
    in mind that in case of acquittal, there is
    double presumption in favour of the
    accused. Firstly, the presumption of

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    innocence is available to him under the
    fundamental principle of criminal
    jurisprudence that every person shall be
    presumed to be innocent unless he is
    proved guilty by a competent court of law.

    Secondly, the accused having secured his
    acquittal, the presumption of his innocence
    is further reinforced, reaffirmed and
    strengthened by the trial court.

    (5) If two reasonable conclusions are
    possible on the basis of the evidence on
    record, the appellate court should not
    disturb the finding of acquittal recorded by
    the trial court.”

    16. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances
    of the case and law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court

    while considering the scope of appeal under Section 378 of

    the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 no case is made out to

    interfere with the impugned judgment and order of acquittal.

    17. In view of above facts and circumstances of the

    case, on my careful re-appreciation of the entire evidence, I

    found that there is no infirmity or irregularity in the

    findings of fact recorded by learned trial Court and under

    the circumstances, the learned trial Court has rightly

    Page 18 of 19

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    NEUTRAL CITATION

    R/CR.A/1532/2009 CAV JUDGMENT DATED: 29/04/2026

    undefined

    acquitted the respondent/s – accused for the elaborate reasons

    stated in the impugned judgment and I also endorse the

    view/finding of the learned trial Court leading to the

    acquittal.

    18. In view of the above and for the reasons stated

    above, the present Criminal Appeal fails and the same

    deserves to be dismissed and is dismissed, accordingly. Record

    & Proceedings be remitted to the concerned trial Court

    forthwith.

    (SANJEEV J.THAKER,J)
    SRILATHA

    Page 19 of 19

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