N.DHINAKAR, J.

The reference is by the learned Additional Sessions Judge -cum- Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tuticorin, under Section 366(1) Cr.P.C. Criminal Appeal No.326 of 2003 is by A4 and A9, Criminal Appeal No.327 of 2003 is by A5 and A6, Criminal Appeal No.328 of 2003 is by A7 and A10, Criminal Appeal No.329 is by A12 and Criminal Appeal No.338 of 2003 is by A1, A2, A3, A8, A11, A13 and A17, in Sessions Case No.377 of 2003 on the file of the learned Additional Sessions Judge -cum- Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tuticorin. In this judgment, the appellants will be referred to in the same order as they were arrayed before the learned Sessions Judge, for the sake of convenience. The appellants were tried along with 15 others, who were acquitted by the learned Sessions Judge and in this judgment, the acquitted accused, A14 to A16 and A18 to 29, will also be referred to in the same order as they were arrayed before the learned Sessions Judge. Since the above appeals and the reference arise out of a single Sessions Case, they are disposed of by the following common judgment.

2. A1 to A29 were tried before the learned Sessions Judge on an allegation that in pursuance of the consp