JUDGMENT :

1. Heard Sri Imran Mabood Khan and Sri Rajrshi Gupta, learned counsels for the appellant and Sri Satish Pandey, learned A.G.A. for the State.

2. This criminal appeal has been preferred against the judgement and order dated 18.11.2017 passed by Additional Sessions Judge, Court No. 3, Rampur, in S.T. No. 293 of 2003 (State Vs. Shakeel Ahmad) convicting the appellant u/s 3(B)(C) of Official Secrets Act, Section 420 I.P.C. and Section 12 of Passports Act and sentencing him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 10 years u/s 3(B)(C) of Official Secrets Act; 5 years rigorous imprisonment u/s 420 I.P.C. along with fine of Rs. 5,000/-, in default of payment of fine to further undergo two months imprisonment; 2 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 500/-u/s 12 of the Passports Act, in default of payment of fine, further 15 days imprisonment.

3. The prosecution case is that the informant Sunil Tyagi, S.I., S.T.F., Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh lodged an F.I.R at P.S.-Ganj, District-Rampur stating that Special Task Force, Lucknow, was receiving information from various agencies that some people are sending inputs to the I.S.I. and field intelligence units of Pakistan through different