JUDGMENT:

Since all the instant four criminals have been preferred challenging the judgment and order dated 09.05.2016 passed in S.C. No.7 of 2004 on the file of the Additional District and Sessions Court for Exclusive Trial of Bomb Blast Cases, Chennai at Poonamallee, they are considered and decided by this common judgment.

2 The prosecution story reads thus:

2.1 Premchand (P.W.4) is a Marwari businessman and was residing with his wife Kamala (P.W.6), son Bikamchand (P.W.5) and daughter-in-law Rajkumari (not examined) at Door No.3/7, Muthuraman Street, Mylapore, Chennai, which is the place of occurrence. Apart from being a financier, Premchand (P.W.4) was also into real estate business. Premchand (P.W.4) had a dispute with another Marwari businessman Dharamchand (A.3) in connection with the purchase of a huge property viz., Mandaveli market that belonged to one Janakaiya Chettiyar.

2.2 While that being so, on 07.06.2001, around 9.40 p.m., Premchand (P.W.4) parked his two wheeler outside his house and entered the house. At that time, four persons barged into his house from behind and bolted the front door from inside. While two of them brandished knives, the remaining brandished countr