C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, J.

Accused Nos.25, 26 and 27 in Special Sessions Case No.2 of 2013, on the file of the I Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for the Trial of Cases under the National Investigation Agency Act, Hyderabad, are the appellants in these Criminal Appeals. Accused No.26 filed Criminal Appeal No.175 of 2015, accused No.27 filed Criminal Appeal No.172 of 2015, and accused No.25 filed Criminal Appeal No.311 of 2015. They, along with twenty-one other accused were prosecuted for the offences under Sections 489-B, 489-C, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (for short "the UAP Act") as amended upto 2008, by the learned Sessions Judge. They were found guilty for the offence under Section 489-B IPC and accordingly by judgment dated 19.02.2015 were convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years each and also to pay a fine of Rs.1000/- each, in default to undergo simple imprisonment for six months each. Feeling aggrieved thereby, the appellants filed these appeals.

For convenience, the appellants in Criminal Appeal Nos.311, 175 and 172 of 2015 are refer