Judgment

M.K. Mukherjee, J.-Ravindra @ Ravi Bansi Gohar and Keshya & Kishore Amarsingh Maheshkar, the appellants in these two appeals, along with two others were arraigned before an Additional Sessions Judge of Greater Bombay to answer charges of rioting, two murders and other cognate offences. The trial ended in conviction of each of the appel­lants for those offences and sentence of death, imprisonment for different terms, including life, and fine. Against their convictions and sentences they preferred an appeal before the High Court, which was heard along with the case arising out of the statutory reference made by the trial Judge under Section 366 Cr.P.C. In disposing of the reference case and the appeal by a common judgment, the High Court affirmed the convictions and sentences of the appellants and set aside those of the other two. Hence this appeal.

2. Shorn of details, the prosecution case is as under:

(a) On March 5, 1987 at or about 3.30 a.m. a number of persons were found approaching Satrasta police lock up of Agripada Police Station through an opening in the compound wall and hurling country-made bombs. One of the bombs hit and injured Manaji Mani, who wa