JUDGMENT

Dr. Arijit Pasayat, J.—

1. Challenge in this appeal is to the judgment of a Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissing the appeal filed by the appellant. The learned IV Additional Sessions Judge, Kurnool found the accused appellant guilty of offence punishable under Section 364-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the ‘IPC’) and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for life.

2. Background facts in a nutshell are as follows:

P.W.1 is grandfather and PW-2 is father of the victim minor girl-Keerthi. PW-7 is their driver. PW-3 is maid servant, PW-5 is the class teacher of Nursery class and PW-6 is Principal, of Sri Lakshmi English Medium School, Kurnool. Keerthi aged about 3 years was studying in Nursery class of the school. On 03.7.2001 at about 8.30 a.m., PW 7 dropped the girl at the school and at about 8.45 a.m, one person came to her class, informed PW 5 that parents of the child forgot to give syrup to her and on his request, the girl was sent with him to administer the same. After noticing that the child has been carried away by him, PW 5 instructed PW 3 to stop him. The said person did not stop though cautioned by PW 3 and so, she asked PW 8, who