MUNDAMDRA KAREEM Vs. THE DEPUTY RANGER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Revision petition filed by the first and second accused in C.C. No. 904/1998 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court - II (Forest Offences), Manjeri. The revision petitioners and the third accused were convicted by the trial court and they challenged the conviction, imposed on them under Sections 27(1)(e)(iii) and 27(1)(e)(iv) of the Kerala Forest Act, 1961 (in short 'the Act'), before the learned Sessions Judge, Manjeri in Crl. Appeal No. 278/2001. Learned Sessions Judge, after considering the entire evidence, allowed the appeal in part. The conviction and sentence imposed on the third accused was set aside. The conviction and sentence in respect of the revision petitioners were confirmed.

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for the revision petitioners and the learned Public Prosecutor.

(3.) Learned counsel contended that the petitioners have been framed up in this case. It is further contended that the Forest Officers took nearly three years to complete the investigation, indicating that actually they were groping in darkness. Yet another contention raised by the learned counsel for the petitioners is that there is no material to show the arrest and remand of the accused.