JUDGMENT :

Prayer: This Criminal Appeal is filed under Section 374(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, against the conviction and sentence passed by learned Sessions Judge, Mahila Court, Thoothukudi in S.C.No.35 of 2015, dated 23.02.2016.

1. This present criminal appeal is directed against the conviction and sentence dated 23.02.2016 made in S.C.No.35 of 2015 on the file of the learned Sessions Judge, Mahila Court, Thoothukudi.

2. The appellant is arrayed as first accused and his parents are arrayed as accused Nos.2 and 3 (now acquitted) in the above referred case. They stood charged for the offence punishable under Sections 417, 376 and 506(i) of IPC and Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. After full-fledged trial, the learned Sessions Judge, Mahila Court, Thoothukudi, came to the conclusion that the appellant is found guilty for the offence under Section 376(1) of IPC and sentenced to undergo 10 years rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-, in default, to undergo three months rigorous imprisonment. For the remaining charges against the first accused and in respect to the charges framed against the accused Nos.2 and 3, the learned Trial Ju