State Of Chhattisgarh v. Dev Kumar Gond
Case brief
What is this about?
Chhattisgarh High Court, Bilaspur (Division Bench), ACQA No.124 of 2017, State of Chhattisgarh v. Dev Kumar Gond, Bhaiya Ram & Shivvrat, decided 19/06/2026 (neutral citation 2026:CGHC:24967-DB): State appeal under Section 378(3) CrPC against acquittal for murder (Sections 302 and 201 read with Section 34 IPC, Sessions Trial No.95/2011, judgment dated 07/05/2014) dismissed. Held: seized bloodstained articles and bloodstained soil not sent for chemical examination; last-seen circumstance alone, absent cogent and reliable evidence, insufficient to overturn acquittal. Keywords: appeal against acquittal, S.378(3) CrPC, last seen, chemical examination of seized articles, murder, benefit of doubt, Chhattisgarh.
What did the court decide?
In absence of the seized articles and the bloodstained soil being sent for chemical examination, and in absence of any cogent and reliable evidence led by the prosecution, the mere fact that the respondents were seen with the deceased on the fateful day was not sufficient to hold them involved in the commission of the alleged crime, and the trial Court committed no illegality in acquitting them.