IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Dated: 12/12/2002 Coram The Honourable Mr. Justice P. SHANMUGAM and The Honourable Mr. Justice M. CHOCKALINGAM Criminal Appeal No.895 of 1997 and Criminal Appeal No. 896 of 1997 and Criminal Appeal No. 897 of 1997 and Criminal M.P. Nos.780 to 782 of 1998 Chandradevi (A-3) .. Appellant in C.A. No.895 of 1997

1. Kamalanantha (A-2)

2. Balan @ Balendran (A-4)

3. Mayilvaganan (A-5)

4. Nanda @ Nandakumar (A-6) .. Appellants in

5. Sathish @ Sathiskumar (A-7) C.A. No.896 of 1997 Premananda @ Premkumar .. Appellant in @ Ravi (A-1) C.A. No.897 of 1997 -Vs-

State of Tamil Nadu by Inspector of Police, C.B., C.I.D., Pudukkottai (Crime No.1183 of 1994 of Viralimalai Police Station) .. Respondents in all the three appeals.

Prayer: Appeals against the judgment of the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Pudukkottai Division at Pudukkottai dated 20.8.1997 made in Sessions Case No.7 of 1996.

!For Appellants : Mr. U.R. Lalith, Senior Counsel assisted by Mrs. D. Revathi for appellant (A-1) in C.A. No.897/97 Mr. Shanmuga Velayutham for appellants 1, 2, 4 and 5 (A-2, A-4, A-6 & A-7) in C.A. No.896/97

3rd appellant (A-5) in C.A. No.896/97 died. Mr. M.G.L. Sankaran for appell