1Crl. A. No. 1713/98 is preferred by A - 2 and A - 4 as against the Judgment dated 2-12-1998 in S.C. No. 27/97(D) on the file of IV Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Hyderabad. Crl. A. No. 1741/98 is preferred by A - 5 as against the Judgment in S.C. No. 27/97 on the file of IV Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Hyderabad.

2. The C.I. of Police, Chiragpally Police Station laid charge sheet in Cr. No. 37/94 as against A - 1 to A - 7 for an offence punishable under S.395, IPC and the case against A - 6 was split up and the case against A - 7 was deleted and A - 1 to A - 5 were tried. The learned IV Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Hyderabad to whom the matter was made over recorded the evidence of PW - 1 to PW - 11, marked Exs. P - 1 to P - 16 and M.Os. 1 to 4 and convicted A - 2, A - 4 and A - 5 under S.395, I.P.C. and sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 500/- each and in default of payment of fine, to suffer simple imprisonment for 3 months. Hence the present criminal appeals.

3. Sri Praveen Kumar, the learned counsel representing the appellants in both these appeals had pointed out that in view of the fact that acqui