JUDGMENT :

TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO, J.

1. Criminal Appeal No. 1214 of 2016 is filed by A3 and Criminal Appeal No. 1219 of 2016 is filed by A1 and A2 under Section 374(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.P.C.). Both the appeals are filed questioning the conviction and sentence imposed against A1 to A3, vide judgment dated 17.11.2016 in Sessions Case No. 13 of 2014 on the file of the Court of II Additional Sessions Judge, Kadapa.

2. The police filed charge sheet stating that the accused Nos.1 to 3 have committed an offence punishable under Section 364A I.P.C. read with Section 34 I.P.C. on the report given by the father of the boy (P.W.2) (hereinafter called as ‘boy’), i.e., P.W.1-Bandi Bala Subbaiah to the police. The de facto complainant has lodged the report before the police stating that one unknown person telephoned to him and threatened that his son is with him and demanded to pay Rs.12,00,000/- to release his son, otherwise they would kill his son. The incident occurred on 08.04.2013 and thereafter the de facto complainant has lodged the report before the police on 09.04.2013 at 6-00 a.m. and the accused were arrested on 11.04.2013.

3. On conducting a detailed investigat