IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR &

THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE SHOBA ANNAMMA EAPEN WEDNESDAY, THE 5^TH DAY OF JULY 2023 / 14TH ASHADHA, 1945 CRL.A NO. 178 OF 2018 AGAINST THE JUDGMENT IN SC 796/2015 OF ADDITIONAL SESSIONS COURT - IV, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM APPELLANT/ACCUSED:

FRANCIS, C.NO.2067 , CENTRAL PRISON, TRIVANDRUM BY ADVS.

LAILA SUNIL RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:

STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY DGP, HIGH COURT OF KERALA BY ADVS.

SMT.AMBIKA DEVI S, SPL.GP ATROCITIES AGAINST WOMEN & CHILDREN & WELFARE OF W & C BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SMT.BINDU O.V., THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON

22.06.2023, THE COURT ON 05.07.2023, DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

P.B.SURESH KUMAR & SHOBA ANNAMMA EAPEN, JJ.

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Crl.Appeal No.178 of 2018 ----------------------------------------------- Dated this the 5^th day of July, 2023

JUDGMENT

P.B.Suresh Kumar, J.

The sole accused in S.C.No.796 of 2015 on the files of the Additional Sessions Court-IV, Thiruvananthapuram is the appellant. He challenges in this appeal, the conviction entered and the sentence passed against him in the said case.

2. The case of the prosecut