SURAT SINGH Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS criminal appeal is preferred by the appellants being aggrieved by the judgment and order of sentence dated 22/10/1997 passed by the Sessions Judge, Sagar in ST No.72/1997, whereby the appellants were convicted for commission of offence punishable under Section 436 or 436/34 of IPC and sentenced for two years' rigorous imprisonment.

(2.) THE appellant No.4 has expired during the pendency of this appeal, therefore his name was deleted from the array of the appellants, because his appeal was abated.

(3.) THE appellants-accused abjured their guilt. They did not take any specific plea but they have stated that they were falsely implicated in the matter. In this connection, an affidavit of one Shri Singh (PW-8) was also filed which was in favour of the appellants that they did not make any arson in the house of the complainant. However, except filing of that affidavit Ex.D-2, no defence evidence was adduced.