Judgment

HIDAYATULLAH, J. : The two appellants, who were granted special leave by this Court, appeal against the judgment of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh convicting them, on appeal against acquittal, of an offence under S. 380 of the Indian Penal Code and sentencing them to six months rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 500 each, with further rigorous imprisonment for one month in default of payment of fine.

2. The prosecution case which had a checkered career in the High Court and the two Courts below, is as follows: In Dusi, which is a part of Bhaskararaopuram, there was a Press known as Srinivasa Printing Press at Srinivasa Ashram. This Press existed for over 17 years. Pappala Chinna Ramadasu (P.W. 4) was admittedly a printer and for some years, the declared keeper of that Press under S. 4 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. The declarations were made in 1944 (Ex. P. 4) and 1917 (Ex. P. 5). On November 21, 1955, Pappala Chinna Ramadasu sold this Press by a registered document (Ex. P. 1.) to one Boddepalli Lakshminarayana for Rs. 4,000, of which Rs. 3,500 were shown to have been paid in advance and the balance was received by Pappala Chinna Ramadasu on Januar