ARUL @ ARUL JOTHI Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants are the accused Nos. 1 to 17 in S.C. No. 32 of 2010 on the file of the learned Principal District & Sessions Judge, Cuddalore. The 1st appellant in Crl.A.No.548 of 2012, who is arrayed as accused No.8, died during the pendency of the appeal. The Trial Court framed as many as 19 charges against the accused Nos.1 to 17, as detailed below:- <IMG>JUDGEMENT_227_LAWS(MAD)2_2016.jpg</IMG> The Trial Court, by common judgment, dated 30.07.2012, convicted all the 17 accused under the following charges and accordingly, punished them as detailed below:- <IMG>JUDGEMENT_227_LAWS(MAD)2_20161.jpg</IMG> <IMG>JUDGEMENT_227_LAWS(MAD)2_20162.jpg</IMG> Challenging the said judgment of conviction and sentence, dated 30.07.2012, the appellants are before this Court with these Criminal Appeals.

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

(3.) We have heard, Mr. A.Natarajan, the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellants in Crl.A.Nos.484 and 548 of 2012; Ms. D.Prasanna, the learned counsel appearing for the appellants in Crl.A.No.553 of 2012; Mr. V.Gopinath, the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellants in Crl.A.Nos.587, 605 and 688 of 2012 and Mr. V.Maharaja, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the State. We have also perused the records carefully.