(Criminal Appeal filed under section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure against the judgment dated 23.11.2000 made in Sessions Case No.160 of 2000 on the file of the Principal Sessions Judge, Villupuram.)

M.Chockalingam, J.

The appellants are three in number, who brought forth this appeal from the judgment of the Principal Sessions Division, Villupuram in Sessions case No.160 of 2000. These appellants along with two others stood charged and tried as follows:

Appellants 1 to 4 stood charged under section 148 of the Indian Penal Code.

Appellant 5 stood charged under section 147 of the Indian Penal Code.

Appellants 1 to 4 stood charged under section 302 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

Appellant 5 stood charged under section 302 r/w 149 of the Indian Penal Code.

2. Appellants 1 to 4 were acquitted of the first charge under section 148 of the Indian Penal Code. Appellant 5 was acquitted of the charge under section 147 of Indian Penal Code. Appellants 1 to 3 were convicted under section 302 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code for which they were directed to undergo life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.5000/- carrying a default sentence of rigorous imprisonment for six months,