JUDGMENT

Abhay Manohar Sapre, J.

(1) Leave granted.

(2) These appeals are filed by the State against the common final judgment and order dated 10.07.2014 passed by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in Crl. R.C.(MD)No. 204 of 2014 and Crl. O.P. (MD) No. 6719 of 2014 whereby the High Court partly allowed the criminal revision case and the criminal original petition filed by the accused persons.

(3) The relevant facts giving rise to these appeals though have been set out in great detail in the impugned judgment of the High Court, have to be recapitulated in order to enable us to give our own reasons keeping in view the law laid down by this Court in the decisions referred to hereinbelow. The material facts mentioned herein are taken from impugned judgment, charge sheet/final report and the special leave petitions.

(4) The appellant is the State of Tamil Nadu represented through the Inspector of Police “Q” Branch of CID Tirunelveli Range and Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu whereas the respondents are the accused persons.

(5) On 11.10.2013, the Indian Coast Guard Thoothukudi received an information that one Vessel named "M. V. Seaman Guard Ohio" was stationed at 10.8 Nautical miles from