CHOCKKIAH Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants are the accused 1 to 4 in Special S.C.No.6 of 2008 on the file of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Theni. They stood charged for the offences under Sections 341, 302 r/w 34, 506(ii) IPC and 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. By judgment dated 17.03.2015, the trial Court acquitted all the four accused from the charge under Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, however, convicted them under Sections 341, 506(ii) and 302 r/w 34 IPC and sentenced them to undergo simple imprisonment for one month for the offence under Section 341 IPC; to undergo simple imprisonment for one year for the offence under Section 506(ii) IPC; and to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/- each, in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a further period of six months for the offence under Section 302 r/w 34 IPC. Challenging the said conviction and sentence, the appellants are before this Court with this appeal.

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

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