(1.) These statutory appeals are filed under Section 2(a) of the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970 and under Section 379 of the Criminal Procedure Code against the final judgment and order dated 18/20.12.2006 passed by the High Court of Delhi in Criminal Appeal No. 193 of 2006 whereby the High Court reversed the order of acquittal dated 21.02.2006 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Delhi, in Sessions Case No. 105 of 2001 and convicted Sidhartha Vashisht @ Manu Sharma (appellant in Crl. A. No. 179 of 2007) under Section 302, 201/120B IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for life for the offence under Section 302 IPC together with a fine of Rs.50,000/- to be paid to the family of the victim and in default of payment of fine, to undergo further imprisonment for three years and also sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for four years for the offence under Section 27 of the Arms Act with a fine of Rs.2000/- and in default to further undergo imprisonment for three months. He was further sentenced to undergo imprisonment for four years for the offence under Section 201/120B IPC together with a fine of Rs. 2,000 and, in default, to further undergo imprisonment for three months. The High Court also sentenced Amardeep Singh Gill @ Tony Gill (appellant in Crl.A. No. 157/2007) and Vikas Yadav (appellant in Crl. A.No.224/2007) to undergo rigorous imprisonment for four years and a fine of Rs.2000/- each and, in default of payment of fine, to further undergo imprisonment for three months under Section 201/120B IPC.
(2.) The case of the prosecution:
(3.) Heard Mr. Ram Jethmalani, learned senior counsel for Sidhartha Vashisht @ Manu Sharma, appellant in Crl. A. No. 179 of 2007, Mr. Nitin Sangra, learned counsel for Amardeep Singh Gill @ Tony Gill, appellant in Crl.A. No. 157/2007, Mr. Ranbir Yadav, learned counsel for Vikas Yadav, appellant in Crl. A.No.224/2007, Mr. Gopal Subramanium, learned Solicitor General of India for Respondent-State in all the three appeals and Mrs. Mamta Dhody Kalra, intervenor, who appeared in person and pleaded for acquittal of the appellant-Manu Sharma.