Deepak Dewangan v. State of Chhattisgarh
Case brief
What is this about?
Deepak Dewangan v. State of Chhattisgarh, High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur, CRA No. 976 of 2024, DB (Ramesh Sinha, CJ authoring; Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J), decided 24/04/2026, NAFR. Keywords: age determination of victim; school dakhil-kharij register insufficient without supporting material; Section 35 Evidence Act; Section 94(2) JJ Act 2015 hierarchy of documents; ossification test not sole criterion; POCSO s.5(l)/6; ss.363, 366, 376(3) IPC; consent of prosecutrix; promise to marry; sole testimony of rape victim must inspire confidence; acquittal on appeal; suspension of sentence/bail I.A. disposed; s.437-A CrPC / s.481 BNSS bond Rs.25000/-; FIR Crime No.66/2022 PS Sarkanda Bilaspur; Special Sessions Case (POCSO Act) No.62/2022.
What did the court decide?
Criminal appeal allowed; impugned judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 12.01.2024 set aside; appellant acquitted of all charges and directed to be released forthwith (if not required in any other case); I.A.No.02/2024 disposed of; appellant to furnish personal bond of Rs.25000/- with two reliable sureties in like amount under s.437-A CrPC (now s.481 BNSS, 2023), effective six months, with undertaking to appear before the Supreme Court if special leave petition filed.