BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 29.01.2026 CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN AND THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.POORNIMA Crl.A(MD)No.99 of 2023 Ayyappan @ Vaithilingam ... Appellant/PW1(Victim & Defacto complainant)

Vs.

1.Vaithilingam

2.Sathasivam

3.Kulanthaivel

4.Sellathurai

5.Raja

6.Saminathan 7.Selventhiran

8.Aravinthan

9.Appakkannu ... Respondents 1 to 9/Accused 1 to 9

10.The State rep. through The Inspector of Police, Pappanadu Police Station, Thanjavur District.

(Crime No.278 of 2020) ... 10^th Respondent/Complainant PRAYER:- Criminal Appeal is filed under Section 372 of Criminal Procedure Code, to call for the records relating to the impugned Judgment passed in S.C.No.208 of 2022 dated 28.11.2022 on the file of the I Additional District and Sessions Judge (PCR), Thanjavur and to set aside the same.

For Appellant : Mr.R.Gowrishankar For Respondents : Mr.AN.Ramanathan – for R1 & R2 Mr.Arun Prasad – for R5, R6 & R7 No appearance – for R3, R4 & R8 Refused - R9 Mr.R.M.Anbunithi – for R10 Additional Public Prosecutor

JUDGMENT

(Judgment of the Court was delivered by R.POORNIMA, J.)

This Criminal Appeal has been filed by the de facto complainant, challenging the j