Joginder Singh Sodhi @ Vicky vs State Of Nct Of Delhi on 15 January, 2026

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Delhi High Court - Orders

Joginder Singh Sodhi @ Vicky vs State Of Nct Of Delhi on 15 January, 2026

Bench: Prathiba M. Singh

                          $~3, 4, 9, 10 & 57
                          *         IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
                          +                            CRL.A. 354/2016
                                    JOGINDER SINGH SODHI @ VICKY                   .....Appellant
                                                       versus
                                    STATE OF NCT OF DELHI                          .....Respondent
                          +                            CRL.A. 754/2016
                                    STATE (GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI)                   .....Appellant
                                                       versus
                                    JOGINDER SINGH SODHI @ VICKY                   .....Respondent
                          +                            CRL.A. 1154/2017
                                    KANTA DEVI                                     .....Appellant
                                                       versus
                                    STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS                    .....Respondents
                          +                            CRL.A. 1155/2017
                                    STATE (GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI)                   .....Appellant
                                                       versus
                                    NARENDER MANN & ORS                            .....Respondents
                          +                            CRL.L.P. 334/2022
                                    STATE                                          .....Petitioner
                                                       versus
                                    SHIV CHARAN BANSAL & ORS.                      .....Respondents
                                    Appearances:
                                    For Accused:
                                    Mr. Himanshu Naliwal, Advocate, for Mr. Shiv Charan Banal.
                                    Mr. Rashid Hasmi, Advocate, for Mr. Lalit Mann & Mr. Shailender
                                    Singh
                                    Mr. Anupam S Sharma, Ms. Harpreet Kalsi, Mr. Ripudamn Sharma,
                                    Mr. Vashisht Rao, Ms. Riya Sachdeva, Ms. Amisha P Dash, Advocates
                                    for Mr. Joginder Singh Sodhi.
                                    For State:
                                    Mr.Ritesh Kumar Bahri, APP with Ms. Vibha and Mr. Lalit Luthra,
                                    Advocates
                                    For Complainant:
                                    Mr. Kartickay Mathur, Advocate (9899036093)



                          CRL.A. 354/2016 & connected matters                                                              Page 1 of 7

This is a digitally signed order.
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                                     CORAM:
                                    JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
                                    JUSTICE MADHU JAIN
                                             ORDER

% 15.01.2026

1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.

CRL.L.P. 334/2022

2. The present application has been filed by the State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi) under Section 378(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, seeking leave to appeal against the impugned judgement dated 24th June, 2020 passed by the ld. ASJ/Special Judge (NDPS), North District, Rohini Courts, Delhi in Sessions Case No. 49605/2015. (hereinafter, 'impugned judgement').

3. Vide the impugned judgement, the accused persons Shiv Charan Bansal, Lalit Mann and Shailendra Singh have been acquitted by the Trial Court.

4. A brief background of the present case is that, an FIR No. 200/2006 dated 21st March, 2006 was registered under Sections 302/120B/201/34 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter, 'IPC') and 25/27 Arms Act, 1959 (hereinafter, 'Arms Act') at P.S. Mangol Puri, Delhi against the following accused persons namely:

(i) Mr. Narender Mann

(ii) Mr. Joginder Singh Sodhi

(iii) Mr. Sachin Bansal

(iv) Mr. Lalit Mann

(v) Mr. Rajbir Singh

(vi) Mr. Shiv Charan Banal CRL.A. 354/2016 & connected matters Page 2 of 7 This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/01/2026 at 20:36:47

(vii) Mr. Shailender Singh

5. Chargesheet was filed against the accused persons for offences punishable under Sections 302/120B/201/34 of the IPC. However, vide order dated 17th March, 2008 the Trial Court directed charges to be framed against Mr. Narender Mann for offences punishable under Section 302, 34 and 201 of the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act. Charges were also framed against Mr. Joginder Singh Sodhi, for offences punishable under Section 302 and 34 of the IPC. Further, charges were also framed against Mr. Sachin Bansal and Mr. Shailender Singh for offences punishable under Section 25 of the Arms Act.

6. Accused persons namely, Mr. Lalit Mann, Mr. Rajbir Singh and Mr. Shiv Charan Bansal were, however, discharged. The order of discharge was challenged by the prosecution in a revision petition before this Court.

7. In separate revision petitions being CRL. REV. 430/2008, CRL REV.P. NO. 405/2008 and CRL REV.P. NO. 342/2008, Mr. Shailender Singh, Mr. Sachin Bansal and Mr. Narendra Mann had challenged the charges framed against them.

8. In these revision petitions, vide common order dated 29th May, 2009 this Court had held that Mr. Narender Mann, Mr. Joginder Singh Sodhi, Mr. Sachin Bansal were to be charged for offences under Section 302/34 read with Section 120B of IPC and Section 25/27 of the Arms Act. The discharge of Mr.Lalit Mann, Mr. Rajbir Singh and Mr. Shiv Charan Banal was affirmed by the Court. Mr. Shailender Singh's revision petition CRL. REV. 430/2008 was also allowed by the Court and he was ordered to be discharged.

9. Pursuant thereto, the State and the Complainant preferred an appeal against the order of discharge against Mr.Lalit Mann, Mr. Rajbir Singh and CRL.A. 354/2016 & connected matters Page 3 of 7 This is a digitally signed order.

10. The Supreme Court vide order dated 5th December, 2019 had decided the appeal and passed the following directions:

"1. The Criminal Appeal filed by the State of NCT of Delhi being Crl. Appeal No. 2248 of 2010, and the private Complainant - Kanta Devi being Cr. Appeal No. 2247 of 2010 are allowed in Part.

We direct the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Courts to proceed with the trial in accordance with law in Sessions Case No. 6/2007 arising out of FIR No. 200/2006 dated 21.03.2006 with respect to the following accused: -

a. The Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Courts, Delhi is directed to frame charges against Shiv Charan Bansal u/S. 302 r.w. S.34 IPC and S. 120B, and S.201 IPC and proceed with the trial in accordance with law.

b. We direct the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Courts, Delhi to frame Charges against Lalit Mann u/S. 302 r.w. S.34 IPC and S.120B IPC and proceed with the trial in accordance with law.

c. We direct the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Courts, Delhi to frame charges against Shailendra Singh u/S.302 r.w. 34 IPC and S. 120B IPC, and S. 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act

2. Let a copy of this Judgment be sent to the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Courts, Delhi for conducting the trial against the aforesaid accused in Sessions Case No. 6/2007 arising out of FIR No. 200/2006.

3. We direct the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Courts, Delhi to fix a time schedule, and proceed with the trial on a day to day basis, and conclude the same preferably within a period of six months from today.

CRL.A. 354/2016 & connected matters Page 4 of 7

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/01/2026 at 20:36:47

4. The Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Court, Delhi is directed to report the progress of the case to this Court after three months.

5. Let a copy of this Judgment be also forwarded to the High Court and placed in the file of pending Crl. Appeal Nos. 1155 of 2017 and 1154 of 2017.

6. We affirm the Judgment of the High Court qua the acquittal of Mr. Rajbir Singh Malik @ Raju -

Accused No.3."

11. In the meantime, the trial against Mr. Narender Mann, Mr. Joginder Singh Sodhi and Sachin Bansal was conducted and vide judgement dated 4th February, 2016, the accused Mr. Narender Mann and Mr. Sachin Bansal were acquitted of the charges framed against them and Mr. Joginder Singh Sodhi was convicted for offences punishable under Sections 302 of IPC and under Section 27 of the Arms Act.

12. Thereafter, appeals bearing CRL.A. 354/2016 CRL.A. 754/2016, CRL.A. 1154/2017 and CRL.A. 1155/2017 were preferred challenging judgement dated 4th February, 2016.

13. For ease of reference, the charges framed against the accused persons vide the aforesaid orders is attached herein below:

Order dated 4th February, 2016 S. No. Name of the accused Charges/Directions

1. Mr. Narender Mann Acquitted

2. Mr. Sachin Bansal Acquitted

3. Mr. Joginder Singh Sodhi Convicted CRL.A. 354/2016 & connected matters Page 5 of 7 This is a digitally signed order.

1. Mr. Shiv Charan Bansal 302/34/120B/201 IPC

2. Mr. Lalit Mann 302/34/120B IPC

3. Mr. Shailender Singh 302/34 IPC and 25/27/Arms Act Session Court order dated 24th June, 2020 S. No. Name of the accused Directions

1. Mr. Shiv Charan Bansal Acquitted

2. Mr. Lalit Mann Acquitted

3. Mr. Shailender Singh Acquitted

14. Vide the present leave to appeal, challenge has been preferred against the acquittal of Shiv Charan Bansal, Lalit Mann and Shailendra Singh by the impugned judgment.

15. Considering that the present leave to appeal arises out of the same incident and same FIR No.200/2006 wherein, four other appeals are already pending before this Court, leave is granted.

16. The present criminal leave petition is allowed and disposed of. The same may be registered as a criminal appeal.

Crl.A. .../2026 ( to be numbered)

17. Let the Criminal Appeal be numbered by the Registry.

18. Admit.

19. Mr. Himanshu Naliwal, ld. Counsel appears on behalf of Mr. Shiv CRL.A. 354/2016 & connected matters Page 6 of 7 This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/01/2026 at 20:36:47 Charan Bansal. Mr. Rashid Hasmi, ld. Counsel appears on behalf of Mr. Lalit Mann and Mr. Shailender Singh, Mr. Anupam S Sharma, ld. Counsel appears for Mr. Joginder Singh Sodhi. Mr. Karitkey Mathur, ld. Counsel appears for the Complainant and ld. Counsels accept notice of admission of appeal.

20. The Respondent No.1- Shiv Charan Bansal, Respondent No.2- Shailendra Singh, Respondent No.3 - Lalit Mann are directed to appear before the Joint Registrar on 23rd February, 2026 and furnish personal bonds in sum of Rs. 10,000 each, with one surety of like amount each, to satisfaction of the said Joint Registrar, so as to secure their presence before the Court, as and when, the appeal is taken up for hearing.

21. The TCR has already been requisitioned in these matters. The Registry is directed to prepare the appeal paperbook with proper indexing, pagination and bookmarks expeditiously and provide digitized copies thereof to ld. Counsels appearing on behalf of the parties, upon request.

22. Ld. Counsel for the parties are permitted to obtain the TCR and the paperbook in order to argue the matter on the next date of hearing.

23. Ld. Counsels for the parties may also file brief synopsis, at least one week before the next date of hearing.

24. List on 22nd April, 2026 along with CRL.A. 354/2016, CRL.A. 754/2016, CRL.A. 1154/2017, CRL.A. 1155/2017.

PRATHIBA M. SINGH, J MADHU JAIN, J JANUARY 15, 2026 kk/sm CRL.A. 354/2016 & connected matters Page 7 of 7 This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/01/2026 at 20:36:47

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Delhi High Court - Orders