ORDER

1. Leave granted.

2. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties.

3. According to the impugned judgment passed by the High Court, appellant No.1 is more than 82 years of age and appellant Nos.2 & 3 are 72 and 62 years of age respectively.

4. This is an incident of 1985. The appellants have already undergone part of the sentence. Sending them to jail after a lapse of about 27 years, in the facts and circumstances of this case, would not be justified.

5. On a consideration of the totality of the facts and circumstances of this case, we are of the opinion that ends of justice would meet if we direct each of the appellants to pay Rs.1 lakh to the complainant/injured persons. We direct accordingly. Let the amount be deposited before the Trial Court within two weeks from today and after the amount is deposited, the Trial Court shall disburse the amount equally among the injured persons.

6. Consequently, the sentence of the appellants is reduced to the period already undergone by them, the impugned judgment is modified to the aforementioned extent and the appeal is partly allowed.

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