1. A series of bomb blasts at Churches situate at various places rocked the State of Karnataka in the year 2000 attempting to disturb the normal tranquility of the civilized society and the peace loving people of Karnataka who believe in co-existence of all religious denominations. The Karnataka Government constituted a Special Court for trial of these cases numbering four, in Bangalore. These Appeals and Reference arise out of the bomb blast that took place at St. Peter and Paul Church situated at J.J. Nagar Main Road, Bangalore, on 09.07.2000 at 10.15 p.m.

2. Criminal Appeal No. 1203 of 2008 is preferred by A.10 and Criminal Appeal No. 24 of 2009 is preferred by A.7, A.8, A.9, A.11, A.12, A.13, A.18, A.19, A.20, A.21, A.22, A.24, A.25, A.26 and A.27 against the judgment and sentence passed in S.C. No. 696 of 2005 in Crime No. 113 of 2000, by the 34th Addl. City Civil & Sessions Judge and Presiding Officer, Special Court for the trial of Church Bomb Blast Cases, Central Prison Premises, Bangalore, convicting the accused under Section 235(2) Cr. P.C. for offences under Section 120-B read with Section 121-A, 124-A and 153-A IPC and for other offences, for bomb blast which t