(1.) This appeal is directed against the Judgment dtd. 8/1/2003 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Deogarh in S.T. Case No.185/19 of 2001, convicting the Appellant for the offence punishable under Sec. 302 of IPC and sentencing him to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) for life.
(2.) At the outset, it requires to be noticed that by an order dtd. 31/8/2004, this Court enlarged the Appellant on bail during the pendency of the present appeal.
(3.) To begin with, it requires to be noted that the present Appellant was sent up for trial along with one Bidyadhar Pradhan, who was charged for the offence under Sec. 109 IPC read with Sec. 302 IPC on the ground of abetting the murder.