News Citation : 2026 LN (HC) 192 | 2026:CGHC:11869

March 12, 2026 : The Chhattisgarh High Court has upheld the conviction of two men for attempting to murder a woman during a violent incident in Bilaspur in 2001, while partially modifying the sentence by reducing the jail term and increasing the fine payable to the victim.

The decision was delivered by Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas on 12 March 2026 while deciding a criminal appeal filed against the judgment of the VIII Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bilaspur. The trial court had earlier convicted the accused under Sections 307 and 450 of the Indian Penal Code for attempt to murder and house trespass.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on the night of 29 October 2001 at the residence of Sunita Tiwari in Bilaspur, where she ran a beauty parlour. While she was having tea with Suchcha Nand Wadhwani, the main accused, Ram Krishna Vaishya alias Chhotu, entered the house with others and demanded certain property papers from Wadhwani. The situation quickly escalated into a heated dispute.

When Sunita Tiwari intervened to stop the altercation, Vaishya allegedly fired at her with a country-made pistol. The bullet struck her above the thigh near the abdomen, causing severe bleeding. He then fired another shot, which narrowly passed between the victim and Wadhwani before hitting the wall. The injured woman was immediately taken to the District Hospital in Bilaspur for treatment.

Medical evidence presented in court confirmed that the victim had sustained a serious gunshot injury. Doctors who examined and operated on her recovered multiple pellets from her body during surgery and testified that her condition had been critical when she was admitted to the hospital.

The High Court noted that the testimony of the injured victim carried significant evidentiary value. Her statement that the accused fired at her remained consistent and withstood cross-examination. The account was also corroborated by eyewitness Suchcha Nand Wadhwani as well as by medical and forensic evidence regarding the gunshot injury and pellets recovered during surgery.

Rejecting the defence argument that the prosecution relied only on circumstantial evidence, the Court held that the evidence clearly established that the main accused fired the shot that injured the victim. The Court also found that the other accused were present and acted together, indicating a shared intention to commit the offence.

While affirming the conviction under Sections 307 and 450 of the IPC, the Court considered the long passage of time since the incident. The crime took place in 2001 and more than two decades had passed during the pendency of the case. Taking this into account, and noting the absence of criminal antecedents and the conduct of the appellants while on bail, the Court decided to modify the sentence.

The High Court reduced the prison term for attempt to murder from ten years to seven years. The sentence for house trespass was also reduced from five years to three years. At the same time, the Court increased the fine amounts and directed that the enhanced compensation be paid to the victim.

The appeal stood abated in respect of two other accused who had died during the pendency of the proceedings. The remaining appellants, who are currently on bail, have been directed to surrender before the trial court within eight weeks to serve the remaining portion of their sentence.

Case Reference : CRA No. 645 of 2005, Ram Krishna Vaishya @ Chotu & Others vs State of Chhattisgarh; Counsel for the Appellants: Mr. Manoj Paranjpe, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Rishabh Gupta, Advocate; Counsel for the Respondent/State: Mr. Sanjeev Pandey, Deputy Advocate General.