State Of Gujarat vs Surendrasinh Ramprasad Rajput on 30 June, 2026

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    Gujarat High Court

    State Of Gujarat vs Surendrasinh Ramprasad Rajput on 30 June, 2026

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                                R/CR.A/872/2012                                         JUDGMENT DATED: 30/06/2026
    
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                                        IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
    
                                                  R/CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 872 of 2012
    
    
                           FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:
    
    
                           HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT M. PRACHCHHAK
                           ================================================================
    
                                       Approved for Reporting                          Yes           No
                                                                                                     ✔
                           ================================================================
                                                     STATE OF GUJARAT
                                                           Versus
                                            SURENDRASINH RAMPRASAD RAJPUT & ORS.
                           ================================================================
                           Appearance:
                           MS JYOTI BHATT, ADDL. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Appellant(s) No. 1
                           MS POOJA BASWAL FOR JAYDEEP H SINDHI(9585) for the
                           Opponent(s)/Respondent(s) No. 4
                           MR DUSHYANT BHATT FOR MR PM DAVE(263) for the
                           Opponent(s)/Respondent(s) No. 1,2,3
                           ================================================================
    
                             CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT M.
                                   PRACHCHHAK
    
                                                                   Date : 30/06/2026
    
                                                                     JUDGMENT
    

    1. The appellant – State of Gujarat has preferred this appeal under
    Section 378(1)(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 against the
    judgment and order dated 30.03.2012 passed by the learned
    Additional District & Sessions Judge, Vadodara (at Chhotaudepur)
    (hereinafter be referred to as “the trial Court”) in Atrocity Case No.5
    of 2009, whereby the trial Court has acquitted the original accused
    (respondents herein) from the offences punishable under Sections
    406
    , 418, 420, 504, 506(2) and 114 etc of the Indian Penal Code read
    with Section 3(1)(10) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
    (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (hereinafter be referred to as “the

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    Atrocity Act”).

    2. Short facts of the prosecution case are that the complainant
    Amarsing Mansing Rathva registered complaint against the
    respondent accused before Jetpurpavi Police Station, which was
    registered as M.Case No.8 of 2008 for the offences punishable under
    Sections 406, 418, 420, 504, 506(2) and 114 of the Indian Penal Code
    and Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocities Act. It is the case of the
    prosecution that, in accordance with the law and the terms of the
    legal agreement, the respondents accused had entered into an
    agreement with the complainant. Lastly, on 20.05.2008, at about
    11:00 hours, near Tinbatti Chowk, Jetpur, when the complainant
    demanded payment of the money due to him in respect of the sale of
    watermelons, the respondents accused became provoked, abused
    him, threatened him to kill and committed fraud and criminal breach
    of trust and also grabbed the money, and thereby, the respondents
    accused by abetting each other committed fraud. Therefore,
    complaint was lodged by the complainant as aforesaid.

    2.2 On the basis of the said complaint, investigation was initiated
    and after thorough investigation as there was sufficient evidence
    against the respondents-accused, charge sheet was filed before the
    earned Chief Judicial Magistrate First Class, Jetpurpavi. As the offences
    committed by the accused persons was exclusively triable by the
    Court of Sessions as per the provisions of 209 of Criminal Procedure
    Code
    , the learned Judge committed the case to the Court of Sessions
    and the case was transferred and placed for trial before the learned
    Additional District Judge and Sessions Judge, Vadodara (at
    Chotaudepur), which came to be numbered as Special (Atrocity) Case
    No.5 of 2009.

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    2.3 Thereafter, charge was framed against them for the offences
    punishable under Sections 406, 418, 420, 504, 506(2) and 114 of the
    Indian Penal Code, Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocities Act. The accused
    persons pleaded not guilty to the charge and claimed to be tried.

    3. It appears from the records that to prove the case, the
    prosecution has examined the following witnesses:-

                            Sr. No.                                Particulars                         Exh. No.
                                 1       Complainant Amarsing Mansing                                      23
                                 2       Witness Sonalben Amarsing                                         34
                                 3       Witness Shankarbhai Mansabhai (Eye Witness)                       45
                                 4       Witness Bharatbhai Maganbhai (Eye Witness)                        46
                                 5       Witness Vitthalbhai Dhanjibhai (Eye Witness)                      48
                                 6       Witness Chhatrasingh Ranchhodbhai,                                53
                                 7       Witness Alsingbhai Amarsing                                       55
                                 8       Witness Ranchhodbhai Hatubhai                                     68
                                 9       Witness Chandubhai Tersingbhai                                    89
                                 10      Pradhyumansinh Ramanlal Zala                                      92
    

    Investigating Officer and Dy.S.P. Veljibhai Jivabhai
    11 100
    Katara
    12 Panch Witness Virendrakumar Dineshchandra Rai 108
    13 Panch Witness Jitendrabhai Fogatbhai 109

    4. In addition to this, the prosecution has also produced the
    following documentary evidence.

                            Sr. No.                      Documentary Evidence                         Exh. No.
                                 1       Original Complaint being I-C.R. No. 23/08                         25
                                 2       Affidavit regarding the caste of the complainant                  26
                                 3       Copies of Village Form No. 8-A and 7/12 Extracts              28 to 33
    
    
    
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                                R/CR.A/872/2012                                   JUDGMENT DATED: 30/06/2026
    
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                                        Copy of Computer Data from 27/02/2008 to
                                4                                                                        69
                                        02/04/2008
                                5       Weighbridge Receipts                                         70 to 86
                                6       Copy of the Extract of the General Register                      90
                                7       School Leaving Certificate of Amarsing Mansing                   91
                                8       Caste Certificate of Amarsing Mansi Singh                        93
    

    Extract of the Register pertaining to the Caste
    9 94
    Certificate
    Notice received by the complainant from the
    10 94 – A
    Revenue Authority
    Forwarding Memo whereby Complaint being I-C.R.
    11 101
    No. 23/08 was forwarded for investigation
    12 Yadi addressed to Jetpur Police Station 102
    Yadi addressed to the P.S.O., Jetpur for production
    13 103
    of the Medical Certificate
    Panchnama of the Physical Condition of the
    14 104
    Accused Persons
    Wireless Message addressed to the Superior Officer
    15 105
    prior to the arrest of the accused persons
    Yadi regarding making an entry in the Station Diary
    16 106
    concerning the arrest of the accused persons
    17 Revenue Receipt in the name of the complainant 112
    Educational Cess Receipt in the name of the
    18 113
    complainant

    5. After closure of the evidence, the statements of the accused
    under section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 have been
    recorded wherein they denied of having committed any offence and
    have stated that they are innocent.

    6. After hearing both sides and considering the evidence on
    records, the trial Court by impugned judgment and order has
    acquitted the accused from all the charges levelled against them.

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    7. Being aggrieved by and dissatisfied with the aforesaid judgment
    and order of acquittal the appellant – State of Gujarat has preferred
    this appeal.

    8. Heard Ms.Jyoti Bhatt, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for
    the appellant – State of Gujarat, Mr. Dushyant Bhatt, learned counsel
    appearing on behalf of Mr.P.M. Dave, learned counsel for the
    respondent Nos.1 to 3 – original accused and Ms.Pooja Baswal,
    learned counsel appearing on behalf of Mr.Jaydeep Sindhi, learned
    counsel for the respondent No.4 – original complaint at length.

    9. Ms.Bhatt, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the
    appellant – State of Gujarat has submitted the same facts which are
    narrated in the memo of appeal and has also submitted that the
    prosecution has examined witnesses and produced documentary
    evidence, despite this fact, the trial Court has not considered the
    same in its true and proper perspective in passing the judgment and
    order of acquittal. Ms.Bhatt, learned Additional Public Prosecutor,
    while referring to the entire oral as well as documentary evidence,
    has assailed the impugned judgment and order and submitted that
    the trial Court has not taken into consideration the evidence
    connecting the accused to the alleged offence in its proper
    perspective and even the prosecution has been able to prove the
    charges levelled against the accused. While referring to the evidence
    of the witnesses and the material collected against the accused,
    Ms.Bhatt, learned Additional Public Prosecutor has submitted that the
    prosecution has established the case against the accused by
    examining the witnesses, who have supported the case of the
    prosecution, however, the trial Court has discarded and disbelieved
    the evidence of these witnesses. She has submitted that the

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    witnesses have fully supported the case of the prosecution, however,
    the trial Court has not appreciated the same and passed the judgment
    and order of acquittal which is illegal and unjust. She has submitted
    that it is settled legal position that the evidence of a single witness is
    sufficient for conviction if the same is reliable and trustworthy and in
    the present case, though the evidence of all the witnesses are reliable
    and trustworthy, without any cogent reason, the trial Court has
    disbelieved and discarded the evidence of the witnesses.

    9.1 According to Ms.Bhatt, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, the
    trial Court ought to have convicted the accused and ought to have
    imposed necessary sentence. She has prayed to allow the present
    appeal and to quash and set aside the impugned judgment and order
    of acquittal.

    10. Per contra, Mr.Dushyant Bhatt, learned counsel for the
    respondents – accused has supported the impugned judgment and
    order and has submitted that the trial Court has not committed any
    error of law and fact in acquitting the accused from the charges
    levelled against them. He has submitted that the ingredients of the
    offence alleged against the accused are not proved beyond
    reasonable doubt and, therefore, the trial Court has rightly acquitted
    the accused as the complainant has failed to prove the charge
    levelled against the accused. He has also submitted that there is no
    iota of evidence to connect the accused with the alleged crime in
    question. He has prayed to confirm the impugned judgment and
    dismiss the present appeal.

    11. On perusal of the impugned judgment and order of acquittal
    passed by the trial Court, the questions arise for determination are as

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    under:-

    (1) whether the trial Court has rightly justified in passing the
    judgment and order of acquittal.

    (2) whether the trial Court has rightly appreciated the evidence
    led by the prosecution in recording the reasons.
    (3) whether there is any illegality, irregularity and perversity in
    the impugned judgment and order of acquittal.

    12. I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the respective
    parties and perused the material placed on record. On examining the
    case put forward by the prosecution, it appears that PW-1, the
    complainant, was cultivating watermelons in the riverbed of Village
    Sajod, Taluka Jetpur Pavi. The respondents-accused were engaged in
    the business of selling watermelons. Through respondent No. 3,
    respondent Nos. 1 and 2 approached the complainant for the
    purchase of watermelons. The complainant agreed to sell the
    watermelons to respondent Nos. 1 and 2, and the parties mutually
    agreed upon the price. Accordingly, first-quality watermelons were
    sold at the rate of Rs.113/- per 20 kg, while medium-quality
    watermelons were sold at the rate of Rs.51/- per 20 kg. The total
    value of the transaction amounted to Rs.5,79,031/-, out of which the
    respondents-accused had paid a sum of Rs.92,000/- to the
    complainant. So far as the remaining amount was concerned, the
    respondents-accused refused to pay the same. Consequently, a
    dispute arose between the complainant and the respondents-accused.
    Instead of lodging an FIR, the complainant filed a private complaint
    before the learned Magistrate, being Inquiry Case No.23 of 2008,
    alleging that the respondents-accused had committed the offences of

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    cheating and criminal breach of trust by failing to pay the balance
    amount due to the complainant. It was further alleged that the
    complainant had repeatedly approached the respondents-accused at
    their residence and demanded payment of the outstanding amount;
    however, the respondents-accused merely gave false assurances and
    failed to pay the balance consideration towards the sale of the
    watermelons and thus, on the date of the alleged incident, when the
    complainant went to the residence of respondent No.1 and demanded
    payment of the balance amount due, respondent No.1, with an
    intention of intentionally insulting and humiliating the complainant,
    allegedly abused him by uttering caste-related derogatory words,
    thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 3(1)(10) of
    the Atrocity Act. It emerges from the record that the Inquiry Case was
    referred for investigation and during the course of the investigation,
    the police found sufficient material to proceed against the
    respondent-accused, whereupon an FIR came to be registered and,
    upon completion of the investigation, a charge-sheet was filed
    against the respondents-accused before the trial Court and the trial
    Court after considering the evidence adduced by the prosecution
    acquitted the respondents-accused from the charges levelled against
    them.

    13. While appreciating the evidence led by the prosecution, it is
    necessary to consider the basic ingredients of Section 405 read with
    Section 420 of the IPC as observed by the Hon’ble Apex Court in case
    of Satishchandra Ratanlal Shah v. State of Gujarat, reported in
    (2019) 9 SCC 148, wherein it has been observed and held that the
    element of criminal breach of trust is required to be proved by the
    prosecution beyond reasonable doubt. It is also further observed that
    fraudulent and dishonest intention must exist to commit a crime in

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    these Sections and these two elements must be there at the time of
    commission of the offence. The Hon’ble Apex Court has also further
    observed that mere breach of promise, agreement or contract does
    not, ipso facto, constitute offence of criminal breach of trust under
    section 405 without there being clear case of entrustment. Mainly the
    difference between Criminal breach of trust and cheating would
    depend upon fraudulent inducement and mens rea. To support the
    charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating existence of
    fraudulent or dishonest intention right at the beginning of transaction
    with mens rea must be shown. Breach of contractual obligations
    which are accompanied by fraudulent, dishonest or deceptive
    inducements resulting in involuntary and inefficient transfer stand
    criminalised under section 415 of the IPC. In another case of Dr.
    Lakshman v. State of Karnataka
    , reported in (2019) 9 SCC 677,
    the observations made by the Hon’ble Apex Court are relevant for
    determining whether the transaction between the complainant and
    the respondents-accused falls within the ambit of Sections 405, 406,
    and 420 of the IPC, as alleged. In my humble opinion, the trial Court,
    while appreciating the evidence adduced by the witnesses, has rightly
    taken these aspects into consideration while examining the
    ingredients of Sections 405, 406, and 420 of the IPC. Thus, prima
    facie, the prosecution has failed to establish the essential ingredients
    of the offences punishable under Sections 405, 406, and 420 of the
    IPC, as alleged.

    14. So far as the allegation regarding the offence punishable under
    Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocity Act is concerned, the prosecution has
    failed to lead any cogent and reliable evidence to establish that the
    respondents intentionally insulted the complainant in a public place
    within public view, as alleged in the complaint and in view of the

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    decision of the Hon’ble Apex Court in case of Shajan Skaria Vs.
    State of Kerala
    reported in AIR 2024 SC 4557, wherein, the
    Hon’ble Apex Court has explained the provisions of Section 3(1)(10) of
    the Atrocity Act, which is reiterated and clarified in the subsequent
    judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court in case of Gunjan @ Girija
    Kumari Vs. State (Nct Of Delhi
    ) reported in 2026 (0) INSC 468,
    wherein the Hon’ble Apex Court has clarified that only when abusive
    words are uttered in a public place within public view, with an
    intention of insulting a particular person on the basis of his
    community, then under that circumstance only it attracts the
    ingredients of Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocity Act and for establishing
    the commission of the offence, the prosecution must lead prima facie
    satisfactory, cogent, and material evidence to prove its case and,
    herein the present case, the prosecution has failed to establish the
    guilt of the respondents by proving that they intentionally insulted the
    complainant in a public place within public view. No evidence worth
    the name has been brought on record by the prosecution before the
    trial Court to establish that the alleged incident occurred in a public
    place. Furthermore, no independent witness has supported the
    prosecution case with regard to the alleged offence. In view of the
    above, I am of the opinion that the trial Court has not committed any
    error of facts and law in passing the impugned judgment and order
    and there is no any illegality or any infirmity found in the judgment
    and order.

    15. It is well settled by catena of decisions that an Appellate Court
    has full power to review, re-appreciate and reconsider the evidence
    upon which the order of acquittal is founded. However, Appellate
    Court 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 their innocence is further reinforced, reaffirmed and strengthened
    by the trial Court.

    16. Further, 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. Further, while
    exercising the powers in appeal against the order of acquittal, the
    Court of appeal would not ordinarily interfere with the order of
    acquittal unless the approach of the lower Court is vitiated by some
    manifest illegality and the conclusion arrived at would not be arrived
    at by any reasonable person and, therefore, the decision is to be
    characterized as perverse. Merely because two views are possible, the
    Court of appeal would not take the view which would upset the
    judgment delivered by the Court below. However, the Appellate Court
    has a power to review the evidence if it is of the view that the
    conclusion arrived at by the Court below is perverse and the Court has
    committed a manifest error of law and ignored the material evidence
    on record. A duty is cast upon the Appellate Court, in such
    circumstances, to re-appreciate the evidence to arrive to a just
    decision on the basis of material placed on record to find out whether
    the accused are connected with the commission of the crime with
    which he is charged.

    17. The scope and principles are enunciated by the Hon’ble Apex
    Court in case of Chandrappa and others Vs. State of Karnataka
    reported in (2007) 4 SCC 415, more particularly paragraph Nos.

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    42 and 43, which was subsequently re-affirmed by the Hon’ble Apex
    Court Rajesh Prasad Vs. State of Bihar and another, reported in
    [2022] 3 SCC 471, wherein, the Hon’ble Apex Court has enunciated
    the general principles in case of acquittal, more particularly in
    paragraph No. 26 the general principles are set out by the Hon’ble
    Apex Court based upon various decisions of the Hon’ble Apex Court.
    Then in case of Babu Sahebagouda Rudragoudar Vs. State of
    Karnataka
    , reported in AIR 2024 SC 2252 = (2024) 8 SCC 149,
    the Hon’ble Apex Court has dealt with the similar issue, more
    particularly, in paragraph Nos. 37 to 40.
    For the purpose of
    considering the provisions of Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocity Act, it is
    worthwhile to refer to the decisions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in
    the case of Talari Naresh Vs. State of Telangana, reported in
    2026 (0) INSC 486 and in case of Sohanvir @ Sohanvir Dhama
    Vs. State of U.P.
    , reported in 2025 (16) JT 81. Hence, I am in
    complete agreement with the findings recorded by the trial Court.

    18. It is also worthwhile to refer to the recent decision of the
    Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Ramesh vs. State of
    Karnataka
    , reported in [2024] 9 SCC 169, wherein the Hon’ble
    Supreme Court has held and observed in paras-20 and 21 as under:-

    “20. At this stage, it would be relevant to refer to the
    general principles culled out by this Court in Chandrappa
    and others vs. State of Karnataka
    , regarding the power of
    the appellate Court while dealing with an appeal against a
    judgment of acquittal. The principles read thus:

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

    (2) The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 puts no
    limitation, restriction or condition on exercise of such

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    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 emphasize 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 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.

    21. In Rajendra Prasad v. State of Bihar, a three-Judge
    Bench of this Court pointed out that it would be essential
    for the High Court, in an appeal against acquittal, to clearly
    indicate firm and weighty grounds from the record for
    discarding the reasons of the Trial Court in order to be able
    to reach a contrary conclusion of guilt of the accused. It
    was further observed that, in an appeal against acquittal, it
    would not be legally sufficient for the High Court to take a
    contrary view about the credibility of witnesses and it is
    absolutely imperative that the High Court convincingly
    finds it well-nigh impossible for the Trial Court to reject
    their testimony. This was identified as the quintessence of
    the jurisprudential aspect of criminal justice. Viewed in this
    light, the brusque approach of the High Court in dealing
    with the appeal, resulting in the conviction of Appellant
    Nos. 1 and 2, reversing the cogent and well-considered
    judgment of acquittal by the Trial Court giving them the
    benefit of doubt, cannot be sustained.”

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    19. Considering the entire evidence on record, it clearly appears
    that there is no credible evidence to connect the present accused with
    the alleged crime and the evidence on record is not so convincing to
    prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused have committed the
    alleged crime. Therefore, the accused cannot be convicted on the
    evidence on record.

    20. On perusal of the impugned judgment and order, it clearly
    transpires that the trial Court has not committed any error of fact and
    law in appreciating the evidence on record and in acquitting the
    accused from the charges levelled against them. Even on re-
    appreciation of the evidence, it clearly transpires that the prosecution
    has miserably failed to prove the charge levelled against the accused
    beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore, the impugned judgment and
    order of the trial Court is sustainable and the present appeal is liable
    to be dismissed.

    21. In view of the above, the present appeal is devoid of merits and
    it deserves to be dismissed. Resultantly, it is dismissed. The
    impugned judgment and order of acquittal passed by the trial Court is
    hereby confirmed. Bail bond stands cancelled. Record and
    proceedings be sent back to the concerned Trial Court forthwith.

    (HEMANT M. PRACHCHHAK,J)

    Dolly

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