JUDGMENT

AHMADI, J. :— This appeal by P.W. I Suryamoorthi and his mother P.W. 2 Papparnmal is directed against the judgment of the High Court of Madras which confirmed the order of acquittal passed by the learned Additional Assistant Sessions Judge, Thanjavur. P.Ws. 1 and 2 reside in village Sivakollai, a hamlet of Nambivayal. On Feb. 18, 1972, P.Ws. 1 and 2 left for Madras with Rs. 73,600/- in cash wrapped in a towel tied around the waist of P.W. 2. They went to consult P. W. 22 Sundarammal as they desired to purchase a property in Madras. They reached Madras on the morning of Feb. 19, 1972. They informed P.W. 22 that they were desirous of purchasing a house in Madras but PW 22 advised them to invest the amount in agricultural land in their village. Accepting her advice PWs1and 2 left Madras on the night of Feb. 19, 1972 by a State Transport Express bus which reached Thanjavur at about 4.15 a.m. on the next day i.e. Feb. 20, 1972. Since they had to change the bus at Thanjavur, PWs,1 and 2 alighted from the State Transport bus and proceeded towards the Municipal Bus stand to take the bus to Pattukottai. When they were about to board the other bus, original accused Nos. 1to3, all po