Judgement

BHAGWATI J. : Anokhelal Ranjit Singh, original accused 1 and Appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 28 of 1954, Harnarain Nanakchand, original accused 2 and Appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 23 of 1954 and Rankishan Mithanlal Sharma, original accused 4 and Appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 4 of 1954, along with one Rubidas Radhelal, original accused 3 since deceas ed and one Bankelal Devisingh still absconding were charged under Section 397 read with Section 395 of the Indian Penal Code with having committed dacoity and used deadly weapons at the time of committing the same and were also charged under Section 396 of the Indian Penal Code with having committed the murder of Lawrence Quadros at the same time and place and in the course of the same transaction while committing the said dacoity.

The trial was held before the Sessions Judge for Greater Bombay with the aid of a special jury. The jury returned unanimnous verdicts of guilty against each of the accused and the learned Sessions Judge convicted them and sentenced each of them to transportation for life. An appeal filed by them to the High Court of Judicature at Bombay was summarily dismissed. Special leave was granted to th