State of Chhattisgarh v. Shivprasad Khalkho
Acquittal appeal – State's appeal under S.378(1) CrPC against acquittal
Case brief
What is this about?
Keywords: acquittal appeal by State; S.378(1) CrPC; Ss.279, 337, 338, 304-A IPC; rash and negligent driving; fatal accident; death of Shauki; injuries to Bini Devsiya, Raja (PW-4), CB Joseph (PW-1); contradictions in prosecution evidence; rickshaw vs motorcycle version; complainant denied FIR Ex.-P/1 and sketch map Ex.-P/2; no clear evidence of rash driving; possible view doctrine; no perversity; benefit of doubt to accused; Marshal vehicle No.CG15B/1743; incident dated 12.03.2008 near Nishant Medical Store, Deviganj, Ambikapur; FIR at Police Station Ambikapur; District Surguja; Criminal Case No.5657/2013; judgment dated 27.8.2018 of JMFC Ambikapur; ACQA No.94 of 2020; High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur; Deepak Kumar Tiwari, J.; decision dated 19/08/2025; NAFR (non-reportable).
What did the court decide?
The statements of the prosecution witnesses reveal material contradictions as to the manner of the accident: CB Joseph (PW-1) deposed that the family was moving in a rickshaw and categorically denied being on a motorcycle, whereas Raja (PW-4) deposed that he and his father had parked their motorcycle, and PW-4 further deposed that he did not know who was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.