ORDER

1. By this order we are disposing of the appeals filed by the complainant, the State of V.P. and one of the three accused, namely, J.B. Katariya (hereinafter referred to as "the appellant") against the judgment dated 14-2-2002 rendered by the Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court in Criminal Appeals Nos. 2350 of 1997, 22 of 1998 and 1315 of 1998.

2. The appellant was tried for the offences under Sections 302 and 342 of the Penal Code, 1860 (for short "IPC") and Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The other two accused, namely, Ghanshyam Shatma and Ram Narain were tried for the offences under Section 302 read with Sections 34 and 342 IPC. The trial court convicted the appellant under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for life. He was further convicted under Section 342 IPC and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months. However, he was acquitted of the charge under Section 7 read with Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Ghanshyam Sharma and Ram Narain were acquitted of the charge under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC but were convicted under Section 323 read with Section 34 IPC as also under S