JUDGMENT

K. JAYACHANDRA REDDY, J.:—The sole appellant herein was tried along with five others for offences punishable under Sections 254, 255, 258, 259, 467 read with 120-B, I.P.C. The gravamen of the charge was that all of them conspired and agreed to do the illegal act of counterfeiting of Government stamps and in pursuance of that conspiracy, counterfeited Government stamps and sold the same and they were also found in possession of the counterfeit stamps and some of them were found in possession of instruments and other materials intended to be used for the purpose of counterfeiting stamps. The trial Court acquitted all of them. The State preferred an appeal. The High Court while confirming the acquittal of other accused, however, convicted the appellant Joti Parshad under Ss. 258 and 259, I.P.C. and sentenced him to undergo three years R.I. and a fine of Rs. 500/- on each count and in default of payment of fine to undergo further R. I. for three months on each count, on the ground that the prosecution proved that the appellant had been selling counterfeit court-fee stamps and while doing so he had knowledge or at least reason to believe that the said stamps which he was sellin