KANJIBHAI BECHARBHAI CHAROLA (THAKOR)versusSTATE OF GUJARAT
- Disposal
- 97-DISPOSED AS TRANSFER TO DISTRICT/SESSION COURT N.I. ACT.
- Bench
- SANJEEV THAKER
Holding
A victim’s appeal against an acquittal under Section 138 of the NI Act must be heard by the Sessions Court as mandated by the proviso to Section 372 of the CrPC.
Summary
Kanjibhai Becharbhai Charola appealed the trial court's acquittal on a charge under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The High Court examined whether the complainant, as a victim, has a statutory right to appeal under the proviso of Section 372 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which mandates that such appeals be made to the Sessions Court. Citing its own earlier decision in Shivsinh Ganpatsinh Solanki v. State of Gujarat and the Supreme Court’s ruling in M/s Celestium Financial v. A. Gyanasekaran, the Court held that the appeal must be transferred to the appropriate Sessions Court. Consequently, the High Court disposed of the appeal with an order directing the Registry to transfer the entire case record to the Sessions Court for further hearing. The merits of the original acquittal were not considered at this stage.
Issues considered
- The complainant’s statutory right to appeal an acquittal under Section 138 NI Act
- Whether the appeal should be heard by the High Court or transferred to the Sessions Court under Section 372 CrPC
- The proper jurisdiction for appeals arising from Section 138 NI Act cases
Legislation cited
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 372, s. 378, s. 413
- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881s. 138
Subjects
Judgment
R/CR.A/1531/2024 ORDER DATED: 09/02/2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/CRIMINAL APPEAL (AGAINST ACQUITTAL) NO. 1531 of 2024
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KANJIBHAI BECHARBHAI CHAROLA (THAKOR)
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.
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Appearance:
MRS NISHA M PARIKH(2397) for the Appellant(s) No. 1
BAILABLE WARRANT NOT RECEIVED BACK for the
Opponent(s)/Respondent(s) No. 2
MR GIRISH D CHAVDA(3226) for the Opponent(s)/Respondent(s) No. 2
MS JYOTI BHATT, ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the
Opponent(s)/Respondent(s) No. 1
==========================================================
CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER
Date : 09/02/2026
ORAL ORDER
1. This is an acquittal appeal filed under Section 378 of
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to
as `the Code’ for short) by the complainant against the
judgment and order impugned passed by the learned trial
Court, whereby the learned trial Court had acquitted the
respondent/s/accused of the charge under Section 138 of the
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (hereinafter referred to as
the `NI Act’ for short).
2. Heard learned advocates for the parties. Learned APP
has submitted that this matter is required to be transferred
in view of the recent decision of this Court passed in
Criminal Miscellaneous Application Nos. 12753 of 2019 with
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R/CR.A/1531/2024 ORDER DATED: 09/02/2026
12908 of 2019.
3. Before entering into the merits of this case, this Court
deems it proper to refer to the latest decision rendered by
this Court in the case of Shivsinh Ganpatsinh Solanki V/s
State of Gujarat & Anr. being Criminal Miscellaneous
Application Nos. 12753 of 2019 with 12908 of 2019 on
23.12.2025, wherein, after considering the various judgments
of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, more particularly, the
judgment in the matter of M/s Celestium Financial V/s
A.Gyanasekaran etc. reported in 2025 INSC 804, has
observed and held that the Complainant, in a complaint
under Section 138 of the N.I. Act, being a Victim, has a
specific right to appeal under proviso of Section 372 of the
Code to the Court which is immediately superior in hierarchy
i.e., the Sessions Court. Therefore, the applications for leave
to appeal/appeals which are pending before this Court can be
disposed of with a direction to transfer the said
application/appeal to the concerned Sessions Court.
4. In view of the above, learned advocate for the petitioner
requested to transfer the appeal to the concerned Sessions
Court.
5. In view of the said request, this appeal is disposed of
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R/CR.A/1531/2024 ORDER DATED: 09/02/2026
with a direction to the Registry to transfer the appeal to the
concerned Sessions Court. After it is transferred to the
concerned Sessions Court, it has to be treated as an Appeal
under the proviso under Section 372 of the Code (Section 413
of BNSS) and numbered accordingly and issue notice to the
parties. The Registry is directed to transfer the entire record
of the case, including the certified copies of the order
impugned and record & proceedings, if lying with this Court,
to the concerned lower Appellate Court, forthwith.
6. It is clarified that this Court has not gone into the
merits of the matter at this stage.
(SANJEEV J.THAKER,J)
Bharat
Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: KOSHTI BHARATKUMAR(HC01064), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 09/02/2026 18:29:31
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