Per D. MURUGESAN, J.

1. The appellant was tried as A1, along with three other accused, in S.C. No. 51 of 2002 on the file of the Principal Sessions Judge, Erode. After trial, he was found guilty of the offences under Sections 366 read with 34,323, 324, 506 (ii) I.P.C. and 376 (2)(g) I.P.C. read with Section 3(2) (v) of Scheduled Tribe Act (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and sentenced him to undergo R.I. for 7 years and imposed a fine of Rs.1,000/- in default R.I. for one year for the offence under Section 366 read with 34 I.P.C. imposed a fine of Rs.500/- in default R.I., of 6 months for the offence under Section 323 I.P.C. Life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.1,000/- in default R.I. for one year for the offence under Section 376 (2) (g) I.P.C. read with 3(2)(v) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 and imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default R.I. for one year for the offence under section 324 I.P.C.

2. Questioning the above conviction an sentence the present appeal has been preferred by the appellant.

3. When the appeal was taken up for hearing, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. P. Kumaresan has submitted t