1. The appellant is the sole accused in S.C.No.11 of 2003 on the file of the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court No.V, Coimbatore at Tirupur. He stands convicted for offences under Sections 120-B, 147, 395 and 450 of IPC. He has been sentenced to undergo R.I. for 8 years and to pay a fine of Rs.1000/- [no default sentence imposed] for offence under Section 120-B of IPC; to undergo imprisonment for 6 months [description of imprisonment not given] for offence under Section 147 of IPC; to undergo R.I. for 8 years and to pay a fine of Rs.1000/- [no default sentence imposed] for offence under Section 395 of IPC; and to undergo R.I. for 8 years and to pay a fine of Rs.1000/- [no default sentence imposed] for offence under Section

450 of IPC. Challenging the said conviction and sentence, the accused is now before this court with this criminal appeal.

2. The appellant was one of the accused in PRC No.7 of 1997. Totally there were 11 accused in the said case. But, the appellant was absconding and therefore, the learned Magistrate split up the case as against this appellant and committed the case against the rest of the 10 accused. On committal the cas