SETHURAMAN @ RAMANATHAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant is the sole accused in Special S.C.No.108 of 2001 on the file of the learned III Additional District and Sessions Judge (PCR), Madurai. He stood charged for the offences under Sections 363, 376 Penal Code r/w 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. By judgment dated 17.12.2013, the trial Court convicted the appellant/accused under Sections 363 and 376 Penal Code and acquitted him from the charge under Sec. 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The trial Court sentenced the appellant/accused to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000.00, in default to undergo simple imprisonment for six months for the offence under Sec. 363 Penal Code and to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000.00, in default to undergo simple imprisonment for one year for the offence under Sec. 376 IPC. Challenging the said conviction and sentence, the appellant/accused is before this Court with this appeal.

(2.) The case of the prosecution in brief is as follows :

(3.) We have heard the learned counsel for the appellant and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent and we have also perused the records carefully.