JUDGMENT :

S. MURALIDHAR, J.

1. These are two appeals challenging the same judgment of the trial Court and are accordingly being disposed of by this common judgment. Both these appeals are directed against the Judgment of conviction and sentence dated 8th June 2006, passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Bhanjanagar in S.C. No.28 of 2001 (S.C. 205/2001- GDC), convicting the Appellants for the offence punishable under Section 302 read with 34 of IPC and sentencing each of them to undergo imprisonment for life and pay a fine of Rs.2,000/- and in default to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year.

2. The Appellant in JCRLA No.77 of 2006 was enlarged on bail by the order dated 27th April, 2009 of this Court. As far as the three Appellants in CRLA No.432 of 2006 are concerned, while Appellant Nos.2 & 3 were released on bail by the order dated 3rd December 2009, Appellant No.1 was released on bail by order dated 10th December, 2009.

3. This Court has heard the submissions of Mr. Gautam Misra, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Appellant in CRLA No.432 of 2006 and Mr. Pulakesh Mohanty, learned counsel appearing for the Appellants in JCRLA No.77 of 2006.