Bilaspur : The Chhattisgarh High Court has ordered a fresh trial in a case where a police constable is accused of embezzling over ₹26 lakh in government funds, while criticizing the prosecution for failing to present any evidence.
The case involves Satya Prakash Bhagat, a constable posted in the Superintendent of Police (SP) office in Surguja district. The prosecution alleges that between 2011 and 2014, he misused the salary payment system to transfer excess funds into his own account and that of his father, causing a loss of ₹26.40 lakh to the government.
In January 2020, the trial court acquitted Bhagat after the prosecution failed to produce even a single witness despite being given around 28 opportunities.
The State challenged this decision, and the appellate court set aside the acquittal, ordering a retrial. Bhagat then moved the High Court.
Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal upheld the retrial, stating that courts cannot allow serious criminal cases to fail due to negligence by the prosecution. The Court noted that all witnesses were government officials and their absence raised serious concerns.
The High Court directed that the trial be conducted promptly, with at least two hearings per month, and asked the Inspector General of Police, Surguja Range, to ensure the presence of witnesses. The trial court has been asked to complete the case within five months.
Case Title : Satya Prakash Bhagat vs. State of Chhattisgarh