NARA MANOHARA RAO Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These three appeals arise out of the Judgment of the learned II Additional Sessions Judge at Rajahmundry in Sessions Case No. 178 of 1994, dated 27-6-1996 and they are heard together.

(2.) Out of the eight accused in that case, the first accused died during the pendency of the committal proceedings. Accused 2 to 4 were convicted for the offence punishable under Section 302 I.P.C. and accused 5 to 8 were convicted for the offence punishable under Section 302 read with 149 I.P.C. and they were all sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life. The learned Additional Sessions Judge states in his Judgment that "since the capital punishment is imposed, no fine need be imposed" and thus they were spared the fine.

(3.) Criminal Appeal No.667 of 1996 was preferred by the 3rd accused and Criminal Appeal No.675 of 1996 was preferred by accused 4 to 8. Criminal Appeal No.861 of 1996 was preferred by the 2nd accused through jail. We requested Mr. C. Padmanabha Reddy, who is appearing for the appellants in the other two appeals as a senior Counsel, to argue for the appellant in this appeal as well, as he is the co-accused with the appellants in his appeals. He readily agreed and we thank him for that.