JUDGMENT

This Criminal Appeal has been filed challenging the Judgment dated 16.11.2022 passed in C.C.No.37 of 2013 by the learned Special Judge, Special Court under TNPID Act, Coimbatore, thereby convicting the appellants for the offences punishable under Sections 420 , 406 of IPC, Section 5 of TNPID Act and Section 120-B r/w 420 of IPC.

2. The case of the prosecution is that the first accused is a registered partnership firm as M/s.G.S. Poultry Farms, in which the second and third appellants are the Directors. The fourth and fifth accused were employees of the said firm and were actively involved in its day to day affairs. It is alleged that all the accused, with a dishonest intention, had collected huge amounts as deposits from the general public under various schemes, which are as follows :

In Scheme I :- If the depositor deposits, 1 unit amount of Rs.50,000/- they would supply 100 to 200 number of chicks with maintenance charges of Rs.3,000/- per month for a period of 24 months besides providing free medical facilities and feed ; yearly bonus of Rs.3,000/- aso would be borne by the firm; the grown up chicks would be taken back by the firm after refunding of principal amount of Rs.