JUDGMENT :

Arvind Kumar Verma, J

Heard.

1. These criminal appeals preferred under Section 374(2) of the Cr.P.C are against impugned judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 14/11/2022 passed in Sessions Trial No. 70/2021 by the Additional Sessions Judge, (FTC), Bilaspur (C.G.), whereby the appellants have been convicted under Section 376(D) of the IPC and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment (till his life) with fine of Rs. 10,000/- each, in default of payment to further undergo additional rigorous imprisonment of 04 months each.

2. Case of the prosecution in brief is that on 16/09/2019 the prosecutrix, aged about 24 years lodged the First Information Report (Ex.P/6) alleging therein that prior to 15-20 days, someone was constantly calling her over mobile from mobile no. 9131051174 telling his name as Manmohan Banjare and he was forcing her to meet. On 15/09/2019, the said person, after making call twice or thrice, asked the prosecutrix to meet near Bilha turning, Hirri, on which, at about 04:00 pm, she went to Bilha turning, where appellant- Manmohan along with his five friends came in a Bolero vehicle. Subsequently, Manmohan Banjare forcibly dragged her into the Bolero ve