Judgment

P. JAGANMOHAN REDDY, J.: The appellants along with another accused Narayan Singh, were convicted by the High Court under sections 332, 353, 342 of the Indian Penal Code and were sentenced to one year s rigorous imprisonment on each count,the sentences to run concurrently. These two appeals are by special leave.

2. On 26-5-1965, Sardar Jagat Singh, owner of a lorry made an application to the Vigilance Commissioner, Bhopal Division that the appellant in Crl. Appeal No. 80/69 Shyam Lal Sharma, Barrier Inspector at village Multai, District Betul, has seized the licence of his Driver stating that if he has to pass from the Barrier, he should bring Rs.5/- per trip or Rs.40/- p.m. but the Driver refused to pay him anything and has declined to go there as a result of which he is likely to suffer heavy loss. He, therefore, offered to give currency notes which may be signed and requested that a proper person may be given to him to arrest the Barrier Inspector Sharma and his staff and save him from the corruption. On this application, Circle Inspector Rana Ranjit Singh, P.W.1 was asked to attend to it. Accodingly, he along with Jagat Singh, his Driver and Panchas Hardeet Singh, P.W.6 a