SONTI VENKATAIAH Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Criminal Appeal No. 721 of 2003 is filed by accused No. 1, Criminal Appeal No. 655 of 2003 is filed by accused No. 2 and Criminal Appeal No. 1326 of 2002 is filed by accused No. 3. They were tried toge ther for the offence under Section 302 read with 34 and under Section 201 of I.P.C. Therefore, these three appeals are heard together and decided by this common judgment.

(2.) All the accused have been found guilty for the offences under Section 302 read with 34 and under Section 201 of I.P.C. They have been sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life and fined with Rs. 500.00 each for the offence under Section 302 read with 34 of I.P.C. For the offence under Section 201 of I.P.C. they have been sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for three years and also fined with Rs. 500.00 each.

(3.) The substance of the charge against the accused was that on 26-4-1999 at about 6.30 a.m. the accused, in furtherance of their common intention, caused the death of one Eshwaraiah, husband of Accused No. 2 at his house in Ganganagar by inflicting head injuries on him. They caused disappearance of the evidence by burying the dead body under the floor of the house. On the basis of these allegations, charges were framed, accused pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. Prosecution examined 13 witnesses and exhibited 26 documents.