KOTHAPALLI SUNIL KUMAR Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appeal is directed against the judgment in Special Sessions Case No.10/1998 on the file of the Special Judge for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act-cum-Additional District Judge, Adilabad convicting the accused for an offence under Section 3(1)(xi) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (for short, 'the S.C. and S.T. Act') read with Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code and sentencing him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay a fine of Rs.500/-, and in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months. Questioning the legality and correctness of the conviction and senlence recorded by the Court below, the accused filed the present appeal.

(2.) The brief facts that are necessary for disposal of the present appeal are that, on 3.4.1998 at about 3.00 p.m., a sweeper by name Eppa Durgamma went inside the Municipal Office, Kagaznagar, along with another sweeper P.W.2, that while returning after drinking water the accused caught hold of the hand of Durgamma - P.W.1 with an intention to outrage her modesty and abused her in vulgar language, that on a report given by her, the Kagaznagar police registered a case in Crime No.50/1998 under Section 3(1)(xi) of the S.C. and S.T. Act read with Section 354 IPC.

(3.) On behalf of the Prosecution, P.Ws.1 to 4 were examined and Exs.Pl and P2 were marked. On behalf of the accused, D.Ws.1 and 2 were examined.