NAGARAJ REDDY Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal challenges the judgment and order dtd. 31/3/2022, passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras in Criminal Appeal No. 34 of 2019, wherein the High Court dismissed the appeal preferred by accused No. 1, appellant herein, against the judgment and order of conviction dtd. 20/12/2018, passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Hosur (hereinafter referred to as 'trial court'), in S. C. No. 7 of 2007, for the offences punishable under Ss. 302 and 341 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short 'IPC'), sentencing him to undergo life imprisonment.

(2.) The case of the prosecution in a nut shell is as follows:

(3.) Aggrieved by their conviction and sentence, accused Nos. 1 and 3 preferred an appeal before the High Court. Pertinently, the State did not prefer any appeal against the acquittal of accused Nos. 4 to 13. The High Court, vide the impugned judgment and order, confirmed the conviction and sentence imposed on the appellant herein but acquitted Sridhar Reddy, accused No. 3 of all the charges levelled against him, finding that, while he had been arrested a few days after the incident, the date of his arrest was shown only as 22/9/2004.