Supreme Court – Daily Orders
Lakhan vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh on 23 July, 2025
Bench: Sanjay Karol, Prashant Kumar Mishra
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO(s).952 OF 2025
LAKHAN APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH RESPONDENT(S)
O R D E R
1. Appellant challenges the judgment and order dated
06.07.2023 in I.A.No.9604/2023 in CRA No.10616 of 2022,
titled “Lakhan vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh”.
2. The appellant herein stands convicted by the Trial
Court for having committed offences under Sections 363,
366, 368, 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and
Sections 5/6 and 5(j-ii)/6 of the Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and has been sentenced to
undergo imprisonment for varying periods, with the
maximum being ten years of rigorous imprisonment, all
sentences to be served concurrently.
3. Assailing the same, the appellant has preferred an
appeal which is pending consideration before the High
Signature Not Verified
Digitally signed by
NAVEEN D
Date: 2025.08.09
Court. Upon the Court’s refusal to suspend the sentence
13:25:36 IST
Reason:
pending hearing of the appeal, in terms of the impugned
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order dated 06.07.2023 in I.A.No.9604/2023 in CRA
No.10616 of 2022, the appellant has preferred the instant
appeal.
4. We have perused the record and heard Mr. Ashwin Kumar
Nair, learned counsel for the appellant, and Mr.
Pashupathi Nath Razdan, learned counsel for the
respondent.
5. We notice that the appellant has maintained good
conduct throughout the investigation, trial, and during
the pendency of the appeal. He has also suffered
incarceration for a period of more than three years. Vide
order dated 24.02.2025, the appellant was directed to be
released on bail on such terms and conditions as the
Trial Court deemed fit. It is not in dispute that the
appellant has abided by all such conditions till date.
Considering the totality of the circumstances and
noticing that the factum of age of the victim is an
arguable point pending consideration of appeal before the
High Court, we are inclined to suspend the sentence and
allow the appellant to continue to be on bail in terms of
our order dated 24.02.2025.
6. We also direct that the appeal pending before the
High Court be expedited. The present appeal is disposed
of accordingly.
7. However, any observations made herein shall not come
in the way of the High Court in deciding the appeal
uninfluenced thereby.
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8. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand
disposed of.
………………J.
(SANJAY KAROL)
………………J.
(PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA)
NEW DELHI
23rd JULY 2025
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ITEM NO.119 COURT NO.13 SECTION II-E
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Criminal Appeal No(s).952/2025
LAKHAN APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH RESPONDENT(S)
Date : 23-07-2025 This appeal was called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KAROL
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRAFor Appellant(s) : Mr. Ashwin Kumar Nair, AOR
Mr. Ritik Gupta, Adv.
Mr. Wazid Hassan, Adv.
Mr. Parv Birla, Adv.
Ms. Rushali Agarwal, Adv.
Ms. Saloni Rana, Adv.
For Respondent(s) :
Mr. Pashupathi Nath Razdan, AOR
Ms. Maitreyee Jagat Joshi, Adv.
Mr. Ramesh Thakur, Adv.
Mr. Astik Gupta, Adv.
Mr. Yuvraj, Adv.
Mr. Yaduven, Adv.
Upon hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
1. The appeal is disposed of in terms of the signed
order, which is placed on the file.
2. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed
of.
(D. NAVEEN) (ANU BHALLA)
COURT MASTER (SH) COURT MASTER (NSH)
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