(1.) Criminal Appeals Nos. 592/80, 617-618/80 and 676/80 were taken on Board. All these appeals arise out of the common judgment of the High Court of Madras in Criminal Appeals Nos. 546/75, 588/75, 590/75 and 591-92/75. The appellants are convicted under S. 120-B of the IPC read with Ss. 381, 411 and 414, IPC. and S.5(2) read with 5(l)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and sentenced to various periods of Rigorous Imprisonment. A-1, A-4 and A-7 were also sentenced to pay fine. In Calendar Case No. 1/ 1971 on the file of the Special Judge ten original accused were tried for the above-mentioned offences. The trial Court acquitted A-6 and convicted rest of them. The convicted accused have preferred the appeals before the High Court but the same were dismissed.
(2.) All the convicted accused preferred special leave petitions and leave was granted pursuant to which these appeals before us are numbered.
(3.) In Criminal Appeal No. 748/80 A-1 is the appellant. In Criminal Appeal No. 676/ 80 A-2, A-3, A-8, A-9 and A-10 are the appellants. In Criminal Appeals Nos. 617-18/80 A-4 and A-5 are the appellants. In Criminal Appeal No. 592/ 80 A-7 is the appellant.