JUDGMENT

This Appeal has been filed by the accused, challenging the conviction and sentence imposed upon him vide Judgment dated 14.11.2017 in S.C.No.244 of 2015, on the file of the learned Sessions Judge, Special Court for Exclusive Trial for Cases registered under the SC/ST Act, Villupuram District.

2(a). It is the case of the prosecution that the appellant and witness one Raja/P.W.1 were doing coolie work; that the appellant was in the habit of fighting with the witnesses in an inebriated condition; that the victim/P.W.2/Poomalai, questioned the said conduct; that the appellant therefore attacked one Shanmugam, who was not examined as a witness; that when the victim, Poomalai who belonged to the Scheduled Caste Community tried to intervene, the appellant abused him in filthy words and humiliated him; that in the course of the same transaction, the appellant had threatened both Poomalai/P.W.2 and Raja/P.W.1 and stated that if they antagonised the appellant, he would set fire to t