JUDGMENT

The appellants in all these appeals were tried for offences punishable under Ss. 466, 468, 471 read with S. 120-B, I.P.C. as well as under S. 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The object of the conspiracy was to frustrate the provisions of the newly notified Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961 in so far as the provisions affected the interest of the conspirators and thereby to retain the large areas of lands with the leaders of the conspiracy and their relatives etc. To achieve this object, it is alleged that certain revenue records and the records of the concerned sugar factory were forged and some incorrect entries were made. In these appeals, we are concerned with the officers of the Revenue Department, namely, Talathis working in the relevant Village Chavdis and the employees of the sugar factory. Out of the 13 accused, Accused Nos. 6 to 10 in one case and accused Nos. 3 to 6 in another case were the employees of the factory and accused Nos. 11 to 13 in one case and accused Nos, 7 and 8 in another case were the Talathi accused. The trial Court convicted the appellants before us for the said offences and sentenced them to undergo fiv