(1.) The appellants herein namely Sunil @ Balikaran Sahu and Amit Gupta were awarded death sentence by the trial Court after having found them guilty for offences punishable under Sections 460 (three counts), 324 (three counts), 307 (three counts), 506 Part -II (ten counts), 397 (nine counts) and 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short 'the IPC'). They were sentenced to death by hanging under sub -section (5) of Section 354 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short 'the CrPC'). Conviction and sentences imposed upon both the appellants are as follows: -
(2.) The learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Durg, in exercise of power conferred under Section 366 of the CrPC after passing the sentence of death submitted the proceedings to this Court for confirmation and this is how this death reference is before us for consideration along with the appeal preferred by the two accused persons / appellants being Cr.A.No.586/2014.
(3.) The prosecution case as unfolded during the course of trial is as under: - Admitted facts: -