Judgment

BHARGAVA, J.:- The ten appellants in this appeal were convicted for offenses punishable under Section 148 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 302 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, and each one of them was awarded concurrent sentences of two years rigorous imprisonment for the first offence and imprisonment for life for the second offence.. The conviction was recorded in respect of the murder of one Mahadeo on the 12th November, 1964.

2. The prosecution case was that Mahadeo had appeared as a witness in an enquiry under Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which was being held on a complaint filed by one Chotai for an offence under Section 500, I P. C., against Angnoo appellant. That complaint was filed by Chotai on the ground that Angnoo had earlier lodged a false report with the Police against Chotai and his brother Sumer for an offence under S. 454, I. P. C. After Mahadeo had been examined as a witness in the enquiry, the Court issued summonses against the accused. The service of the summons on Angnoo took place on 12th November. 1964. On that day, at about noon, Mahadeo had gone from his village Banyan Khera to another village Rampur, one mile away