(1.) In Sessions Trial No.234 of 2008, six accused persons, namely, Sanjay @ Sonu, Rijwan, Haseen Khan, Hari Om @ Hero, Saurabh @ Sanju,Rafique @ Bhaiye @ Fareed were tried for having committed offences punishable under Sections 396,412 of IPC[1] and under Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST[2] Act. These six accused were also tried by the Trial Court[3] for offences under Section 25 of the Arms Act, 1959 in Sessions Trial Nos.235 of 2008, 239 of 2008, 237 of 2008, 238 of 2008, 236 of 2008 and 504 of 2011 respectively. By its common judgment in said seven trials, the Trial Court recorded as under: -
(2.) Death sentence having been awarded to accused Hari Om, the matter stood referred to the High Court[4] by way Reference No.8 of 2015. All the aforementioned six accused also filed Criminal Appeal Nos.3316 of 2015, 3265 of 2015, 3317 of 2015, 3836 of 2015, Capital Appeal No.3086 of 2015 and Criminal Appeal No.3512 of 2015 respectively challenging their convictions and sentences.
(3.) The High Court by its common judgment and order dated 03.03.2017 passed in the aforestated Reference and Appeals: -