STATE OF JHARKHAND Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These Criminal Appeals have been filed against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 22nd June 2011, passed by the learned 1st Additional Sessions Judge, Giridih in Sessions Trial No. 170 of 2008, convicting the appellants Chhattar @ Chhatrapati Mandal, Manoj Rajwar, Anil Ram and Jitan Marandi, for the offences under Sections 148, 302/149, 307/149, 342, 379/149 and 120 -B of the Indian Penal Code; under Section 27 of the Arms Act and under Section 17 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act (CLA Act) and sentenced to undergo R.I. for two years each for the offence under Section 148, IPC; one year each for the offence under Section 342, IPC; three years each for the offence under Section 120 -B, IPC; seven years each for the offence under Section 307/149, IPC; seven years each for the offence under Section 27 of the -Arms Act; six months each for the offence under Section 17 C.L.A. Act. The accused -appellants have further been sentenced to undergo death penalty for the offences under Section 302/149, IPC.

(2.) THE Death Reference has been filed by the State for confirmation of the death sentence awarded to all the accused -appellants, named above, which has been registered as Death Reference No. 3/2011, whereas the said appeals have been filed by the accused -appellants against the impugned judgment.

(3.) THE accused -appellants pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. Their defence was total denial of the prosecution case. They also took the plea of false implication.