JUDGMENT :

PAMIDIGHANTAM SRI NARASIMHA J.

1. This appeal by accused no. 3¹[hereinafter referred to as Appellant.], challenges the judgment of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in Criminal Appeal No. 213 of 2006 confirming the conviction of the Appellant imposed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Guna for offences under Sections 201, 380, 435, 457 and 477 read with Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The High Court also confirmed the sentence of rigorous imprisonment for four years along with a fine of Rs. 500 under Sections 380, 435, 457 of the IPC and rigorous imprisonment of two years along with a fine of Rs. 500 under Section 201 IPC. However, the sentence under Section 477 IPC was reduced by the High Court from rigorous imprisonment for six years to four years.

2.1 Three accused, employees of Guna Branch of Central Bank of India, were prosecuted for the above-referred offences of theft (of Rs. Six Lakhs from the safe and strong room of the Bank), house-trespass, destruction of valuable security, and other offences. While the main accused, Pradeep Saxena (hereinafter referred to as ‘A-1’) and Vinod (hereinafter referred to as ‘A-2’), were convicted and sentenced concurrently