Vemula Satyanarayana v. State Of Andhra Pradesh — 2025 DIGILAW 208 (SC)

ORDER : 1. These appeals arise out of the judgment of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in Criminal No. 1732 and 1740 of 2009 dated 11.03.2014. 2. With respect to the incident dated 02.10.2001, twenty seven accused were tried, three of whom died during the Trial and the Trial Court by its judgment dated 24.11.2009 convicted and sentenced the twenty four accused as under: "1) A1 is sentenced for R.I. of 1 (one) year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC and R.I. for 5 (five) years and fine of Rs.2,000/-(two thousand only) IDSI for 6 months (six months) for the charge under Sec.307 r/w 149 IPC. 2) A2 is sentenced for R.I. of 1 (one) year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC and R.I. for 5 (five) years for the charge under Sec.307 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine Rs.2,000/-(Two thousand only) IDSI for six months. 3) A3 is sentenced for R.I. of one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and R.I. for LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the charge under Sec.302 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/- IDSI for 1 year. 4) A4 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and R.I. for LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the charge under Sec.302 r/w 149 IPC and also pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year. 5) A5 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC and R.I. for LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the charge under Sec.302 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year and R.I. for six months for the charge under Sec.427 IPC. 6) A6 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC and R.I. for LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the charge under Sec.302 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year. 7) A7 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and R.I. for five years for the charge under Sec.307 r/w 149.IPC and pay a fine of Rs.2,000/-(two thousand only) IDSI for six months. 7) A7 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and R.I. for five years for the charge under Sec.307 r/w 149.IPC and pay a fine of Rs.2,000/-(two thousand only) IDSI for six months. 8) A8 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC and R.I. for LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the charge under Sec.302 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year and R.I. for six months for the charge under Sec.427 IPC. 9) A9 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC and R.I. for LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the charge under Sec.302 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year. 10) A10 is sentenced to R.I for one year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC and R.I. for 5 years for the charge under Sec.307 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/- (three thousand only) IDSI for 6 months. 11) A12 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and R.I. for five years for the charge under Sec.307 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.2000/-(two thousand only) IDSI for six months and R.I. for six months for the charge under Sec.427 IPC. 12) A13 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and six months for the charge under Sec.427 IPC. 13) A14 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC, IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE for the charge under Sec.302 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year, R.I. for six months under Sec.427 for the charge under Sec.427 IPC. 14) A15 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE for the charge under Sec.302 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/- (three thousand only) IDSI for one year. 15) A16 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 149 IPC and R.I. for 5 years (five) for the charge under Sec.307 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.2,000/-(two thousand only) IDSI for six months. 15) A16 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 149 IPC and R.I. for 5 years (five) for the charge under Sec.307 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.2,000/-(two thousand only) IDSI for six months. 16) A17 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and R.I. for LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the charge under Sec.302 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year. 17) A18 is sentenced to R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC. 18) A20 is sentenced for R.I for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and R.I. for six months for the charge under Sec.427 IPC. 19) A21 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC. 20) A22 is sentenced R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC. 21) A23 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and R.I. for five years for the charge under Sec.307 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.2,000/-(two thousand only) IDSI for six months. 22) A24 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and. R.I. for LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the charge under Sec.302 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year. 23) A25 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec. 148 IPC and IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE for the charge under Sec.302 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year. 24) A26 is sentenced for R.I. for one year for the charge under Sec.148 IPC and R.I. for LIFE IMPRISONMENT for the charge under Sec.302 r/w 149 IPC and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/-(three thousand only) IDSI for one year. All the above sentences shall run concurrently. 3. The appeal filed by the accused was considered and by the order impugned before us, the High Court acquitted all the accused. 4. While granting leave in the Special Leave Petition, this Court passed the following order: "As per office report dated 16.08.2016, service of notice is complete. However, neither anyone appears for the respondents nor they are represented excepting respondent no. 1-State. Heard learned counsel for the de facto complainant-appellant. 4. While granting leave in the Special Leave Petition, this Court passed the following order: "As per office report dated 16.08.2016, service of notice is complete. However, neither anyone appears for the respondents nor they are represented excepting respondent no. 1-State. Heard learned counsel for the de facto complainant-appellant. No ground for interference is made out to exercise our jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution of India. The special leave petitions are dismissed qua all the respondents excepting Gunturu Harinadh, accused no. 9 (respondent no. 10), Davuluri Venkaiah Babu, accused no. 15 (respondent no. 14) and Gumma Venkateswarlu, accused no. 24 (respondent no. 18) in SLP(Crl.) No.7865/2014 arising out of Criminal Appeal No.1732 of 2009. Since there is specific role assigned to the aforesaid accused persons by the prosecution witnesses PW-2 and PW-3 respectively, issue bailable warrant to Gunturu Harinadh, accused no. 9 (respondent no. 10), Davuluri Venkaiah Babu, accused no. 15 (respondent no. 14) and Gumma Venkateswarlu, accused no. 24 (respondent no. 18), for appearance in this case, to the satisfaction of the arresting officer. List the matter after four weeks, Police officer, in-charge of the jurisdiction where the aforesaid respondents reside, is directed to ensure the compliance of the order. Leave granted. Cause title be amended accordingly." 5. Heard Mr. Nishant Sharma, learned counsel appearing for the appellant, Ms. Prerna Singh, learned counsel appearing for the respondent-State, Mr. Goli Rama Krishna, learned counsel appearing for the accused-respondent(s) and examined the testimonies of PW-2 and PW-3 qua the role alleged against the accused no. 9, 15 and 24. 6. Having considered the matter in detail, we are of the opinion that no case for interference is warranted. 7. In this view of the matter, the Criminal Appeals are dismissed. 8. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.