(1.) Vide impugned judgment dated September 29, 2001, Dharam Vir the appellant in CRL.A.875/2001 and Shyam Kumar, his two sons Lokesh Kumar and Manoj Kumar and his wife Anita the appellants in CRL.A.976/2001 were convicted for offences punishable under Sections 364 -A/368/344 and Section 392 read with Section 120 -B IPC. Vide order on sentence dated October 01, 2001 they were awarded imprisonment for life with a fine of Rs.500/ - for offence punishable under Section 364 -A/120 -B IPC, rigorous imprisonment for 7 years with a fine of Rs.500/ - for offence punishable under Section 368/120 -B IPC, rigorous imprisonment for a period of 3 years and a fine of Rs.500/ - for offence punishable under Section 344/120 -B IPC and rigorous imprisonment for 10 years with fine of Rs.500/ - for offence punishable under Section 392/120 -B IPC.
(2.) During the pendency of appeals, appellant No.1 and appellant No.3 in CRL.A.976/2001 i.e. Shyam Kumar and his son Manoj Kumar passed away and thus appeal qua the appellant Nos.1 and 3 stood abated. Thus, in the present appeals we are concerned with the conviction and order on sentence regarding Dharam Vir, Lokesh Kumar and Anita.
(3.) The prosecution case hinges on the testimony of Bir Kumar Jain @ Sonu PW -8 who claims to have been kidnapped for ransom and his deposition in Court is as under: