The instant Criminal Appeals have been preferred against a common judgment of conviction dated 22.09.2003 and order of sentence dated 23.09.2003, passed by learned Sessions Judge, Palamau at Daltonganj, in Sessions Trial No. 16 of 2002, whereby seven appellants have been convicted by the learned Trial Court for the offence punishable under Section 395 of the Indian Penal Code and appellant Ushman Mian (appellant in Cr. Appeal (SJ) No. 1842 of 2003) has further been convicted under Section 412 of the Indian Penal Code. The learned Trial Court has awarded rigorous imprisonment for seven years for offence committed under Section 395 of the Indian Penal Code and rigorous imprisonment for seven years to Ushman Mian for offence committed under Section 412 of the Indian Penal Code. Against the said impugned judgment of conviction and order of sentence, the present criminal appeals have been preferred before this Court, which are being disposed of by a common judgment.

2. The prosecution case as made out in the First Informant Report is based upon the fardbeyan of Abraham Tigga (P.W. 7), recorded by S.I. Ahmad Ali, officer-in-charge, Sadar P.S. on 19.09.2001 at 10.55 hrs., where t