SIVARAJ Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS day, a petition for condonation of delay in preferring an appeal by A-1 was taken up for consideration. On enquiry, that petition was ordered, and the appeal was numbered as C.A.353/2009. The Counsel for the appellant/A-1 in that appeal would submit that he is ready, and the appeal could be heard. Thus, that appeal is also heard this day.

(2.) ALL these four criminal appeals namely C.A.514/2007 by A-3, 548/2007 by A-4, 631/2007 by A-2 and 353/2009 by A-1, concentrate in challenging a judgment of the Additional Sessions Division, Special Court (Essential Commodities), Salem, made in S.C.No.384 of 2002 whereby the appellants ranked as A-1 to A-4 respectively along with another accused stood charged, tried and found guilty as follows:Table

(3.) HENCE these appeals at the instance of the appellants.5. Advancing arguments on behalf of A-1 in C.A.No.353/2009, the learned Counsel would submit that in the instant case, the occurrence, according to the prosecution, has taken place on 29.9.2002 at about