JUDGMENT

Harish Kumar J.—The Principal District & Sessions Judge, Bidar, in S.C.No.82/2012, by her judgment dated 23.10.2013, held accused No.1 guilty of offences punishable under Section 302, 394 and 201 IPC while acquitting him of offence punishable under Section 376 IPC; and also acquitted accused No.2 and accused No.3 of the offences punishable under Section 376, 302, 394 and 201 R/w Section 34 IPC. The learned Principal District & Sessions Judge (referred to as Sessions Judge hereafter) sentenced the first accused to death in connection with offence punishable under Section 302 IPC besides imposing fine of Rs.10,000/- with a default sentence of two years and further sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 6 years and 3 years respectively for the offences punishable under Section 394 and 201 IPC besides imposing fine of Rs.10,000/- for each of the offences with default sentence of simple imprisonment for one year each. Having imposed death sentence for the offence under Section 302 IPC, the Sessions Judge submitted the proceedings to this Court under Section 366 of Criminal Procedure Code for confirmation. The first accused has also preferred an appeal challenging the judgme