(1.) Both these criminal appeals arise out of the impugned judgment and the order passed by the learned Special Judge and Sessions Judge, Amreli in Special Case No. 6 of 2000 on 29/11/2003 and therefore, both these appeals are being decided by this common judgment.
(2.) Both the Criminal Appeals have been filed by the appellants - original accused under Sec. 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code') against the judgment and order of conviction in Special Case No.6 of 2000 passed by the learned Special Judge and Sessions Judge, Amreli (hereinafter referred to as 'the learned Trial Court') on 29/11/2003, whereby, the learned Trial Court has convicted the appellants for the offences punishable under Ss. 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Sec. 13(2) and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as 'the P.C.Act'). The appellants are hereinafter referred to as 'the accused' in the rank and file as they stood in the original case, for the sake of convenience, clarity and brevity.
(3.) The relevant facts leading to filing the present conviction appeals are as under: