The petitioners, eight in number, have been convicted for various offences by the Stationary Sub-Magistrate, Pulivendla and sentenced to pay varying amounts of fines. All the accused have been convicted under section 147, Indian Penal Code. Accused 1 is sentenced to pay a fine of Rs.50 and the others to a fine of Rs.30. In addition, accused 1 and 8 were convicted under section 427 and sentenced to pay a fine of Rs.100 and Rs.50 respectively. Accused 6 and 7 were also convicted under section 342 and sentenced to pay a fine of Rs.20 each under that section. Accused 1 was besides sentenced to imprisonment till the rising of the Court under section 457, Indian Penal Code, On appeal, these convictions and sentences were confirmed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Cuddapah.

The prosecution case is that in pursuance of a common object of causing damage to an oil engine belonging to P.W.1 they trespassed into the shed wherein the engine was installed, and with the aid of a crowbar smashed the engine, removed some parts therefrom, after threatening P.Ws.2 and 3, who were watching the shed, with violence if they should raise an alarm. The plea of the accused was one of denial.

The pro