Adarsh Kumar Goel, J.

1. This order will dispose of Criminal Appeal No. 525-DB of 2003 filed by Baljit @ Sonu, Raman Goswami @ Goldi, Ravi Dhingra and Laxmi Narain, Criminal Appeal No. 566-DB of 2003 filed by Parvez Khan, Criminal Appeal No. 1384-SB of 2003 filed by Laxmi Narain, Criminal Appeal No. 1203-SB of 2003 filed by Baljit Pahwa.

2. The appellants stand convicted under Section 364A/148/149 IPC, for which they have been sentenced to undergo life imprisonment and other smaller sentences, for which they have filed Criminal Appeal No. 525-DB of 2003 and Criminal Appeal No. 566-DB of 2003. Laxmi Narain and Baljit Pahwa also stand convicted under Section 25 of the Arms Act for which they have filed Criminal Appeal No. 1203-SB of 2003 and Criminal Appeal No. 1384-SB of 2003.

3. Case of the prosecution against the appellants is that they kidnapped Harsh (PW-21) aged 14 years son of Dr. H.K. Sobti (PW20) and Mrs. Indra Sobti (PW-5) when he was going to the school, for ransom.

4. FIR was lodged by Dr. H.K. Sobti on 15.2.2000 at 11-30 A.M., to the effect that on 15.2.2000, his son Harsh who was studying in 7th class in Aggarsain Public School, Kurukshetra, left his home at 7.4