REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION 2024 INSC 776 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 4080 OF 2024 (@ SLP (Crl.) No. 6303 of 2019) HARSHAD GUPTA .....Appellant(s) Vs. THE STATE OF CHHATTISGARH .....Respondent(s) O R D E R Leave granted. 2. The appellant's grievance is against the Judgment dated 13.05.2019 passed by the High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur, whereby his prayer to re-open the judgment of his conviction, hear the arguments afresh by the new Presiding Officer, and then deliver a judgment of conviction or acquittal, has been turned down. The facts may be noticed briefly: 3. FIR No. 03/13 was registered on 28.05.2013 at Police Station Jashpur under Sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short, the “IPC”). The appellant is the principal accused. His father was also named as accused of threatening the victim with dire consequences if she would not withdraw the complaint. The Trial Court framed charges under Sections 376(1) and 506 of the