Accused 1 to 3 in Spl. C.C. 194/1989 on the file of Special Judge/I Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Salem are the appellants. By the Judgment dated 31-7-1997, the learned Special Judge has convicted the appellants for the offences under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) r/w. 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The gist of the charge and the findings of the trial Court and sentence imposed on the accused could briefly be stated thus :-

A-1 Selvaraj was working as Forester, Karipathi Section, Rasipuram Range. A-2 Krishnasamy was working as Forest Guard, Jarugumalai North Beat, Rasipuram Range. A3 David was working as Forest Watcher, Jarugumalai North Beat, Karipathi Section.

From the evidence and materials placed, case of the prosecution could be stated thus :

Complainant Dhanapal (P.W. 1) residing in their farm-house at Veerasamy Pudhur, Kattuvalavu along with his parents, his brother Palanisamy (P.W. 3) and his sister Annakodi (P.W. 7). P.W. 1 is working in Ammapet Co-operative Mill. His father and P.W. 3 were looking after the lands and also the sheep. On the night on 2-1-1989, P.W. 1 had gone to the Mill to attend the night shift.

Taking P.W. 3 to cu