JUDGMENT :

(K. Sreenivasa Reddy, J.)

The appellant herein is the accused in Sessions Case No.85/S/2021 on the file of the Special Sessions Judge- cum-IV Additional District and Sessions Judge, Guntur (hereinafter referred to, as ‘the Sessions Judge’).

2. The appellant/accused was tried for the offences punishable under Sections 354D and 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, ‘IPC’) and Sections 3 (2) (va) and 3 (2) (v) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 (for short, ‘the Act, 2015’). Vide the impugned judgment dated 29.04.2022 in the aforesaid Sessions Case, the Sessions Judge found the appellant/accused guilty of the aforesaid charges, accordingly convicted him and sentenced -to death penalty by way of hanging by neck till he is dead and to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/-, in default to suffer simple imprisonment for a period of one month, for the offence punishable under Section 302 IPC, subject to confirmation by this Court under Section 366 CrPC; to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years and to pay a fine of Rs.500/- in default to suffer simple imprisonment for 15 days, for the offence punishable under S