As per case facts, the complainant, an NRI, found a building on her plot in Faridabad. Investigation revealed that respondent S.C. Suneja used a forged General Power of Attorney via ...
CRR-1977-2017 (O&M)
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
241
CRR-1977-2017 (O&M)
Date of Decision: 20.11.2025
Veena Gupta and another
...Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
Sri Chand Suneja and others.
...Respondent(s)
CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD S. BHARDWAJ
Present :-_ Mr. Kewal Krishan,
Advocate, for
Mr. Vivek Aggarwal, Advocate, for the petitioner(s).
Mr. Vivek Chauhan, Addl. A.G. Haryana.
VINOD S. BHARDWAJ, J.(Oral)
CRM-20701-2017
Application is allowed as prayed for subject to all just
exceptions.
Main case
This revision petition has been preferred by the complainant
against the judgment dated 06.02.2017 passed by the Additional Sessions
Judge, Faridabad as well as the judgment dated 24.03.2014 passed by the
Judicial Magistrate First Class, Faridabad, acquitting the respondents-
accused in Case bearing No.169/1 dated 17.12.2008/28.06.2013 arising out
of FIR No.199 dated 06.06.2008, under Sections 419, 420, 467, 471 and
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120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, registered at Police Station Sector 7,
Faridabad.
2 Tersely, the facts of the present case are that the above FIR was
registered on the complaint dated 10.01.2007 of Smt. Veena Gupta and R.K.
Gupta, who are residents of England and claimed that they are lawful owners
of plot no. D-31, measuring 485.6 sq. yards situated at Model Town, DLF
Area, Sector 11, Faridabad. This plot was purchased by them from one
Balraj Singh son of Avtar Singh Bihala, lawful attorney of Devender Singh
son of Avtar Singh Bihala, for a sale consideration of Rs. 60,700/- vide a
duly executed and stamped receipt dated 22.02.1989 and conveyance deed
No. 1226 dated 27.07.1989, registered in the office of Sub-Registrar, Delhi.
After purchase of this plot, complainant(s) went to England as Veena Gupta
was settled there. On 01.12.2006, complainant came to India on a short visa
and visited the said plot for raising construction thereon and was astonished
to know that a building had been raised over the plot of complainant by
some strangers. On enquiry and going through the record, it was revealed
that respondent-accused no.1-S.C. Suneja son of L.C. Suneja had got a
general power of attorney executed and registered in his favour in respect of
the said plot in the office of Sub-Registrar, Faridabad on 08.07.1996, by
hatching a criminal conspiracy with accused-Rajesh (who was convicted by
Addl. Sessions Judge, Faridabad), Hoshiar Singh Saini, document writer,
Smt. Tarun Suneja wife of S.C. Suneja, Jai Ram Sharma, document writer.
Some lady was produced in place of complainant-Veena Gupta for executing
this general power of attorney by impersonation. On 08.07.1996, when this
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power of attorney was executed, complainant was in England and S.C.
Suneja, who is not known to complainant, further appointed C.L. Kalra son
of Khillu Ram as special power of attorney which was registered in the
office of Sub-Registrar, Faridabad on 30.04.1997 and this plot was further
sold to different purchasers and a building was illegally constructed on the
plot of complainant, who was cheated and defrauded by aforesaid persons by
grabbing her land on the basis of sham, bogus, forged and fabricated
documents.
3 During investigation, the accused were arrested. The matter was
thoroughly investigated and statement of the witnesses was recorded. After
completion of investigation, challan was presented before the learned Illaqa
Magistrate for trial.
4 Initially the challan was filed only against Rajesh but thereafter,
a supplementary challan was presented against Sri Chand Suneja, Tarun
Suneja, Hoshiyar Singh Saini, Chunni Lal, Bhajan Lal and Chetan Swaroop
Sharma on 20.11.2009 under Sections 419,420,467, 468,471,120-B,34 IPC
5 Copies of police challan were supplied to the respondents-
accused free of cost. On finding a prima facie case for the commission of
offence punishable under Sections 467, 468, 471 and 120-B the respondents-
accused were charged, to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
6 In order to substantiate its case, the prosecution examined the
following five witnesses:-
PW-1 SI Kuldeep Singh
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PW-2 Head Constable Satbir Singh
PW-3 Inspector/SHO Sripal
PW-4 Sri Prakash Chand ARC
PW-5 R.K.Gupta husband of complainant Veena Gupta.
7 Evidence of the prosecution was closed by Court order on
12.02.2014.
8 The statement of the respondent-accused were recorded under
Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, wherein all incriminating
circumstances and evidence appearing on record were put to them. However,
they denied all allegations and pleaded that they have been implicated in a
false case. However, no evidence was led by defence in their favour.
9 After hearing the case and considering the arguments advanced
by both sides, the testimonies of witnesses and the evidence placed on
record, the Trial Court vide judgment dated 24.03.2014, acquitted all the
accused of the charges framed against them.
10 Aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment of acquittal of all the
accused, complainant and her husband preferred Criminal Appeal No. 108
dated 05.06.2014 before the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge,
Faridabad. Vide judgment dated 06.02.2017, the said appeal was partly
allowed and the findings recorded by the trial Court against the respondents-
accused herein namely Sri Chand, Tarun Suneja, Hoshiyar Singh, Chuni
Lal, Bhajan Lal and C.S. Sharma, acquitting them of the charges framed
against them were upheld, however, the findings recorded by the trial Court
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regarding accused Rajesh were set aside being not sustainable and he was
held guilty for the commission of offences under Sections, 467, 468, and 471
of the IPC. He was sentenced as under: -
Name of
appellant
Offence u/s Period of
sentence (RI)
Amount/Fine
(in Rs.)
Period of
sentence in
default of
payment of
fine (SI)
Rajesh 467 IPC 7 years Rs.10,000/- 20 days
468 IPC 5 years Rs.5,000/- 15 days
471 IPC 5 years Rs.5,000/- 15 days
11 Aggrieved of the aforesaid, the instant revision petition has
been filed by the complainant.
12 Learned counsel for the petitioners has argued that both the
Courts have failed to appreciate that the GPA/SPA executed by the
respondents are forged and that the sale deeds registered on the basis of
these have been held to be null and void by the Civil Court vide judgment
dated 09.07.2015 being forged and fabricated. He submits that once it is
established by leading evidence that the GPA/SPA were forged, the
respondents-accused were liable to be convicted. He submits that both the
Courts have failed to take into consideration the disclosure statements made
by the respondents which amount to admission of guilt on their part. He
further submits that the respondents-accused have not led any evidence in
their defence, which shows their involvement in the forgery and fabrication
of GPA/SPA and as such the Courts have done grave error in acquitting the
respondents-accused.
13 State counsel, on the other hand, reiterates the submissions
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made before both the Courts which are not being reiterated here, for the sake
of brevity.
14 Learned counsel for the respondents-accused submits that the
findings recorded by the trial Court are based on correct appreciation of
evidence led before it. He submits that the prosecution has failed to prove its
case against the respondents-accused. The complainant failed to lead any
evidence before the trial Court and the evidence of the prosecution had to be
closed by Court order which shows that there was no evidence against the
respondents on the basis whereof they ought to have been convicted. He
submits that the findings of acquittal recorded by the trial Court qua the
respondents-accused have been upheld by the appellate Court in the appeal
preferred by the complainant as such the present revision also deserves to be
dismissed.
15 I have heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
respective parties and have also gone through the judgments passed by both
the learned Courts below.
16 Before proceeding further into the matter, it is necessary to
make a reference to the findings recorded by the learned Appellate Court.
The relevant part thereof reads thus:-
“7 This case has been registered against the
respondents/accused on the complaint Ex.PW5/A made by
complainant Veena Gupta and Rajinder Kumar Gupta i.e
appellants on the allegations that all the respondents in
criminal conspiracy with each other on the basis of forged
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Power of Attorney Ex. PW4/C dated 8.7.1996 in favour of
respondent S.C.Suneja sold and resold her plot no. D/31
measuring 485.6 sq. yards situated at Model Town, DLF Area,
Sector/11, Faridabad and also respondent S.C. Suneja had
fraudulently executed another Power of Attorney in favour of
respondent C.L. Kalra who thereafter resold the plot. In order
to prove its case the prosecution has examined total five
witnesses and after appreciating the prosecution evidence on
record the trial court however due to non/examination of
appellant Veena Gupta, in the absence of original Power of
Attorney (in favour of respondent/accused S.C. Suneja) copy of
which was placed on record as Ex. PW4/C and due to non
examination of subsequent purchaser Parmod Mangla held the
prosecution evidence to be not trustworthy and thus acquitted
the respondents/accused in this case.
8 In order to prove the complaint on the basis of which this
case has been registered the prosecution has examined
R.K.Gupta as PW5 who is husband of appellant Smt. Veena
Gupta. In his testimony PW5 has reiterated all the allegations
contained in the complaint and has also identified his as well as
signature of Veena Gupta on complaint and also proved the
complaint as Ex.PW5/A. As mentioned above though the trial
court did not take into consideration the said complaint Ex.
PW5/A due to non examination of appellant Veena Gupta
however, since the complaint PW5/A has also been signed by
her husband Rajinder Kumar Gupta i.e PW5 it would be safe to
hold that the prosecution has duly proved the complaint on
record.
9. In para no. 3 of complaint PW5/A it had been alleged that
respondent/accused S.C. Suneja in criminal conspiracy with
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respondent/accused Rajesh and Jai Ram Sharma had forged the
Power of Attorney dated 8.7.1996 by producing some fake lady
Veena Gupta as appellant though on the said date the
complainant was in England and never came to India at
Faridabad nor the said Power of Attorney carry her signature
nor she knows S.C. Suneja. As such the prosecution was to
prove that the Power of Attorney dated 8.7.1996 had been
fraudulently prepared by respondents S.C. Suneja, Rajesh and
J.R. Sharma in criminal conspiracy with each other. It is
relevant to mention here that though the respondent S.C. Suneja
and Rajesh were arrayed as accused by the police but J.R.
Sharma who as per complaint Ex. PW5/A was also involved
with the aforesaid accused was not arrayed as accused by the
police in the report under section 173 Cr.P.C.
10. In order to prove the alleged GPA in the name of
respondent/accused S.C. Suneja to be fake the prosecution had
examined PW4 Parkash ARC in the office of Sub Registrar,
Faridabad who brought the summoned record and has proved
the copy of alleged fake GPA dated 8.7.1996 as Ex. PW4/C. He
has also proved copy of sale deed Ex. PW4/A vide which the
respondent/accused S.C.Suneja being GPA holder of Veena
Gupta had executed the sale deed in favour of one Surjan Dass
and copy of sale deed Ex.PW4/B vide which C.L.Kalra in whose
favour the respondent/accused S.C.Suneja had executed a
Special Power of Attorney sold the disputed plot to one Meena
Devi. As mentioned earlier though the trial court had expressed
its inability to consider the fake GPA dated 8.7.1996 Ex.PW4/C
by observing that original GPA has not been placed on record
by the prosecution and that in order to prove that said General
Power of Attorney does not bear the signature of Veena Gupta
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ought to have seek report from FSL, Madhuban but as
mentioned above since PW4 who brought the original record
has proved the copy of GPA Ex.PW4/C on record in the
considered opinion of this court the trial court has erred in not
taking into consideration the GPA Ex.PW4/C which has been
duly proved on record. For the same reasons the trial court
ought to have taken into consideration the copies of sale deeds
Ex.PW4/A and Ex. PW4/B respectively proved on record by
PW4. Moreover, it is relevant to mention here that on 9.4.2009
when respondent/accused C.S. Sharma was produced before
learned Ilaqa Magistrate for remand an application was moved
before trial court seeking the specimen signatures and
handwriting of C.S.Sharma and on the same day respondent
C.S.Sharma had suffered a statement admitting his signatures
on GPA dated 8.7.1996 i.e Ex.PW4/C and the said statement
dated 9.4.2009 is a part of judicial record.
11. In cross/examination though PW5 has admitted that Ex.
PW4/C (i.e GPA dated 8.7.1996) was not executed in his
presence and he had also expressed his ignorance by whom and
where it was prepared but in cross examination no suggestion
has been put to PW5 that the said GPA Ex.PW4/A had been
signed by his wife viz appellant Veena Gupta nor any
suggestion puť to him that the photograph visible on Ex.PW4/C
is that of his wife or that she had got prepared the same. It is
now to be seen what evidence had been adduced by the
prosecution to connect the respondents/accused S.C.Suneja,
Rajesh and C.S. Sharma with the said alleged Power of
Attorney. From perusal of Ex.PW4/C it is revealed that beside
alleged Veena Gupta, respondent/accused C.S. Sharma
(attesting witness no. 2), and Jai Ram Sharma (as Document
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Writer) it also carry the signatures of respondent/accused
Rajesh (as witness no. 1). But it does not carry the signature of
respondent S.C. Suneja. PW3 Sri Pal is the Investigating Officer
in this case who during his testimony has corroborated the
testimony of PW2 qua the disclosure statements Ex. PW2/A and
Ex. PW2/B respectively of respondent/accused Rajesh as well
as recovery memo Ex.PW2/C vide which as per him
photocopies of two receipts were got recovered by accused
Rajesh in pursuance to his disclosure statement. He has also
proved the disclosure statements Ex.PW3/A suffered by
S.C.Suneja and Tarun Suneja as well as recovery memo PW3/B.
He has also proved the disclosure statement Ex.PW3/C of
respondent/accused Chuni Lal.
12. As in pursuance to the disclosure statement Ex. PW2/B
suffered by respondent/accused Rajesh vide recovery memo Ex.
PW2/C he got recovered two photo copies of payment receipts
dated 19.6.1996 and 6.7.1996 and also the original receipts of
said photocopies got recovered by respondent Rajesh had been
taken into police possession vide recovery memo Ex. PW3/B
from respondents S.C. Suneja and Tarun Suneja the said
receipts can be taken into consideration. From perusal of
receipt dated 19.6.1996 it is revealed that it is qua payment of
Rs. 3 lacs by respondent/accused S.C.Suneja regarding sale of
disputed plot and it bears the signature of respondent/accused
Rajesh on the stamp affixed on the same to which one Vijay
Kumar is a witness thereof. The second receipt is dated
6.7.1996 qua payment of Rs.one lac from respondent/accused
S.C.Suneja of disputed plot and it is mentioned therein that
payment of Rs.4 lacs received and it bears only the signatures
of respondent/accused Rajesh. As the aforesaid payment
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receipts had been got recovered by respondent./accused Rajesh
in pursuance of his disclosure statement Ex. PW4/A they can be
read against him. It is further relevant to mention here that
though in his disclosure statement Ex.PW2/A
respondent/accused Rajesh had stated that for GPA (i.e Ex.
PW4/C) Vijay (witness of first receipt) produced a lady whose
name he disclosed as Veena and GPA dated 8.7.1996 (i.e
Ex.PW4/C) was executed in favour of S.C. Suneja on which he
along C.S. Sharma, Advocate put their signatures as witnesses
and he also disclosed that on the asking of Vijay Taneja he gave
the receipt regarding disputed plot but as the second receipt of
Rs. 4 lacs bears the signatures only of respondent Rajesh it can
not be taken that he had not received Rs. 4 lacs only on the
asking of witness Vijay Taneja who admittedly has died.
13. In view of the disclosure staternent Ex. PW2/A duly proved
on record by PW2 since both the receipts bear the signatures of
respondent/accused Rajesh the fact that respondent/accused
Rajesh received a sum of Rs. 4 lacs against sale of disputed plot
from respondent S.C. Suneja stands proved. Further since the
GPA Ex.PW4/C also carry the signature of respondent/accused
Rajesh as witness no. 1 it stands proved that the
respondent/accused Rajesh firstly received the sale amount of
Rs. 4 lacs vide two receipts from respondent S.C. Suneja and
then got prepared the forged GPA Ex. PW4/C in favour of
respondent/accused S.C.Suneja as the payment receipts vide
which respondent/accused Rajesh accepted a sum of Rs. 4 lacs
from respondent/accused S.C.Suneja bear the date 19.6.1996
and 6.7.1996 i.e prior to the execution of forged Power of
Attorney Ex. PW4/C i.e 8.7.1996. The Power of Attorney Ex.
PW4/C do not carry the signatures of respondent/accused
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S.C.Suneja. Also from the disclosure statement Ex. PW2/A of
respondent/accused Rajesh it can not be inferred that the fact
that Veena Gupta allegedly produced by one Vijay is not the
actual Veena Gupta was in the knowledge of
respondent/accused S.C.Suneja. In view of above and as there is
no evidence on record to prove alleged criminal conspiracy
between the respondent/accused Rajesh and S.C.Suneja it
would be safe to conclude that from prosecution evidence on
record the involvement only of the respondent/accused Rajesh
in preparation of fake Power of Attorney Ex. PW4/C stands
proved. Also there is no prosecution evidence on record qua
role of C.S. Sharma whose name is mentioned on the Power of
Attorney Ex. PW4/C as witness no. 2. Therefore, from the
prosecution evidence on record except for the specific role of
respondent Rajesh there is no cogent evidence against S.C.
Suneja and C.S. Sharma qua preparation of fake GPA Ex.
PW4/C.
14. Learned counsel for respondents have relied upon authority
Jaisingh & Ors. Vs. State of Karnataka (supra) where it has
been held by Hon'ble Apex Court that a reversal of the trial
court's judgment should be made in cases where the view taken
was not possible on the evidence or perverse with the broad
under standing that if two views were possible, the one taken by
the trial court in favour of the accused should be retained. In
the authority Arulvelu & another Vs. State represented by the
Public Prosecutor & another (supra) it has been held by the
Hon'ble Apex Court that an order of acquittal should not be
lightly interfered with even if the court believes that there is
some evidence pointing out the finger towards the accused.
However, in the aforesaid authority it has also been held by the
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Hon'ble Apex Court that the power of reviewing evidence is
wide and the appellate court can re/appreciate the entire
evidence on record. It can review the trial court's conclusion
with respect of both facts and law but the appellate court must
give due weight and consideration to the decision of the trial
court.
15. It is relevant to mention here that admittedly in the civil suit
instituted by appellant Veena Gupta against some of the
respondents she had challenged the sale deeds executed qua the
disputed plot on the basis of fake Power of Attorney in the name
of respondent S.C. Suneja beside the GPA dated 8.7.1996 (i.e
Ex. PW4/C) and that all the sale deeds which had been executed
on the basis of said GPA Ex. PW4/C had been declared illegal,
null and void by the civil court. The above referred authorities
relied upon by learned counsel for respondents are not
applicable to this case as while passing the impugned judgment
the trial court has failed to make any observation how the
testimonies of PW2, PW3 and PW5 respectively as well as
recovery of receipts got effected by respondent/accused Rajesh
are not believable and in the absence of any such finding this
court had to reappreciate the entire evidence on record. So far
as the authorities Iqbal Singh Marwah @ Anr. Vs. Meenakshi
Marwah & Anr. 2005(2) RCR (Criminal) 178, Budh Ram Vs.
State of Haryana 2010(2) RCR (Criminal) 352 and Md. Ibrahim
& Ors. Vs. State of Bihar & Aur 2009(4) RCR(Criminal) 369
relied upon by learned counsel for respondents are concerned
they are of no help being distinguishable on facts.
16. So far as the allegations of criminal conspiracy cheating or
fraud etc against the remaining respondents/asccused namely
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Sri Chand, Tarun Suneja, Hoshiyar Singh, Chuni Lal, Bhajan
Lal and C.S. Sharma are concerned, nothing has come in the
prosecution on record as to when and where they had allegedly
conspired for preparation of GPA Ex. PW4/C. Further though
the complainant had also alleged that respondent/accused S.C.
Suneja had fraudulently prepared SPA in favour of C.L.Kalra
and his wife but the said SPA has not been produced/proved on
record.
17. In view of above discussion, this court is of the considered
view that so far as the findings recorded by the trial court
against respondents namely Sri Chand, Tarun Suneja, Hoshiyar
Singh, Chuni Lal, Bhajan Lal and C.S. Sharma are concerned,
they are correct and are therefore upheld whereas the findings
recorded by the trial court qua respondent/accused Rajesh are
not sustainable and are hereby set aside as the prosecution has
been able to prove its case against respondent/accused Rajesh
beyond shadow of reasonable doubt. Therefore he is hereby
held guilty for committing the offences under sections 467,468
and 471 IPC.”
17 Thus, it is evident that due to non-examination of complainant
Veena Gupta, the absence of original Power of Attorney (in favour of
respondent S.C. Suneja) copy of which was placed on record as Ex. PW4/C
and due to non-examination of subsequent purchaser Parmod Mangla, the
prosecution evidence was held to be not trustworthy. It has been further
noticed that the Power of Attorney Ex. PW4/C did not carry the signatures
of respondent/accused S.C. Suneja. Also from the disclosure statement Ex.
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PW2/A of respondent/accused Rajesh, it could not be inferred that Veena
Gupta, allegedly produced by one Vijay was not the real Veena Gupta
and/or that this fact was to the knowledge of respondent/accused
S.C.Suneja. Hence, it was specifically recorded that there is no evidence
on record to prove criminal conspiracy between the respondent/accused
Rajesh and S.C. Suneja and from the prosecution evidence on record, only
the respondent/accused Rajesh’s involvement in preparation of fake Power
of Attorney Ex. PW4/C stands proved. There is no cogent evidence on
record qua role of C.S. Sharma whose name is mentioned on the Power of
Attorney Ex. PW4/C as witness no. 2 and S.C. Suneja qua preparation of
fake GPA Ex. PW4/C. Appellate Court also took note of the fact that in
the civil suit instituted by Veena Gupta against some of the respondents,
she had challenged the sale deeds executed qua the disputed plot on the
basis of fake Power of Attorney in the name of respondent S.C. Suneja
instead the GPA dated 8.7.1996 (i.e Ex. PW4/C) and hence all the sale
deeds that had been executed on the basis of said GPA Ex. PW4/C had
been declared illegal, null and void by the civil court.
18 Thus after appreciating the entire evidence as well as the
documents on record, the appellate Court concluded that the allegations of
criminal conspiracy, cheating ,fraud etc. against the respondents/accused Sri
Chand, Tarun Suneja, Hoshiyar Singh, Chuni Lal, Bhajan Lal and C.S.
Sharma were not made out as nothing had come on record as to when and
where they had allegedly conspired for preparation of GPA Ex. PW4/C and
that even though the complainant had alleged that respondent/accused
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S.C.Suneja had fraudulently prepared SPA in favour of C.L.Kalra and his
wife but the said SPA has not been produced/proved on record.
19 It is also noticed that accused Rajesh against whom finding of
conviction had been recorded by the appellate Court had also filed a revision
before this Court bearing CRR No.535 of 2017. Vide judgment dated
16.05.2017 passed by this Court, the said revision petition was accepted and
the judgment of Appellate Court upholding his conviction was set aside.
20 In view of above, it cannot be held that there is any illegality,
perversity or mis-appreciation of evidence by both the Courts. In the absence
of any of the above the High Court would not re-examine the entire evidence
and re-start the trial exercising powers under its revisional jurisdiction.
21 In view of above, the present revision petition is dismissed.
22 Pending misc. application(s), if any, shall also stand(s) disposed
of accordingly.
November 20, 2025. (VINOD S. BHARDWAJ)
raj arora JUDGE
Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No
Whether reportable : Yes/No
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