AYYADURAI @ VELANKANI Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appellant in Cri.A.(MD)No.184/2006 is accused No.3 and the appellant in Cri.A.(MD)No.306/2008 is accused No.2 in Sessions Case No.8/2001 on the file of Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court, Dindigul. They, along with accused No.1 in the case, by name Michael Raj, stood charged under Sections 379, 397 and 302 read with Section 34 of I.P.C., tried thereunder, found guilty as per the charges and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment for life. Challenging the said conviction and sentence, they have brought forth the present appeals.

(2.) THE short facts necessary for the disposal of this appeal can be stated thus :

(3.) THE case was committed to Court of Session, and necessary charges were framed against all the three accused. In order to substantiate the charges levelled against them, the prosecution relied on the evidence of 19 witnesses, 23 exhibits and 10 material objects. On completion of the evidence on the side of the prosecution, all the accused were questioned under Section 313 of Cr.P.C. as to the incriminating circumstances found in the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, which they flatly denied as false. No defence witness was examined. The arguments advanced on either side were heard. The trial Judge found the appellants guilty as per the charges and awarded the punishment referred to above. Hence, these appeals at the instance of Accused Nos.2 and 3.