IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA, HYDERABAD * * *

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.212 of 2014, CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.182 of 2014, CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.41 of 2023, AND CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1160 of 2017.

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.212 of 2014 Between:

Kranthi Kiran Rathod …Appellant/A-3 VERSUS The State of Andhra Pradesh through Inspector of Police(SHO), Represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P.

Respondent CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.182 of 2014, Between:

1. John Abraham

2. Koppisetti Madhavi …Appellants/A-1 & A-2 VERSUS The State of Andhra Pradesh through Inspector of Police(SHO), Represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P.

Respondent CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.41 of 2023, Between:

Kare Pradeep Kumar …Appellant/A-4 VERSUS The State of Andhra Pradesh through Inspector of Police(SHO), Represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P.

Respondent CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1160 of 2017, Between:

The State of Telangana rep. by The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Hyderabad …Appellant/State VERSUS

1. Kranthi Kiran Rathod

2. Kare Pradeep Kumar …Respondents/A-3 & A-4 COMMON JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED ON: 12.06.2025 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE P.SAM KOSHY AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE N. TUKARAMJI

1. Whether Reporters of Local newspapers may be allowed to see the Judgments? : Yes

2. Whether the copies of judgment may be Marked to Law Reporters/Journals? : Yes

3. Whether His Lordship wishes to see the fair copy of the Judgment? : Yes ________________

P. SAM KOSHY, J _______________ N. TUKARAMJI, J * THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE P.SAM KOSHY AND THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE N. TUKARAMJI + CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.212 of 2014, CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.182 of 2014, CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.41 of 2023, AND CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1160 of 2017.

% 12.06.2025 # Between:

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.212 of 2014 Between:

Kranthi Kiran Rathod …Appellant/A-3 VERSUS The State of Andhra Pradesh through Inspector of Police(SHO), Represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P.

Respondent CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.182 of 2014, Between:

3. John Abraham

4. Koppisetti Madhavi …Appellants/A-1 & A-2 VERSUS The State of Andhra Pradesh through Inspector of Police(SHO), Represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P.

Respondent CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.41 of 2023, Between:

Kare Pradeep Kumar …Appellant/A-4 VERSUS The State of Andhra Pradesh through Inspector of Police(SHO), Represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P.

Respondent CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1160 of 2017, Between:

The State of Telangana rep. by The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Hyderabad …Appellant/State VERSUS

3. Kranthi Kiran Rathod 4. Kare Pradeep Kumar …Respondents/A-3 & A-4 ! Counsel for appellant (s) : Mr. P.Prabhakar Reddy Mr.T.Pradyumna Kumar Reddy Smt. B. Prathibha ^Counsel for the respondent(s) : Mr. Yasin Mamoon, Additional Public Prosecutor

COMMON JUDGMENT:

(Per Hon’ble Sri Justice N. Tukaramji)

We have heard Mr. P. Prabhaker Reddy, learned counsel for Accused No.1 in Criminal Appeal No.182 of 2014; Mr. T. Pradyumna Kumar Reddy, learned Senior Counsel representing Accused Nos.2 and 3 in Criminal Appeals Nos.182 of 2014 and 212 of 2014 respectively; Smt. B. Prathibha, learned counsel for Accused No.4 in Criminal Appeal No.41 of 2023; and Mr. Syed Yasin Mamoon, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, appearing for the State in Criminal Appeal No.1160 of 2017.

2. Since all these appeals arise from the same judgment, we propose to adjudicate them through this common judgment.

3. Criminal Appeal No.182 of 2014 has been preferred by Accused Nos.1 and 2 (hereinafter referred to as ‘Accused Nos.1 and 2’); Criminal Appeal No.212 of 2014 has been filed by Accused No.3 (hereinafter ‘Accused No.3’); and Criminal Appeal No.41 of 2023 has been filed by Accused No.4 (hereinafter ‘Accused No.4’). All these appeals challenge the judgment of conviction and sentence dated 13.01.2014, delivered in Sessions Case No.486 of 2010 by the Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Hyderabad.

4. Criminal Appeal No.1160 of 2017 has been filed by the State (hereinafter ‘the prosecution’) challenging the same judgment dated 13.01.2014 in