In Brief
Ramesan was convicted of offences under the Kerala Abkari Act and sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 lakh. He filed an appeal but died during its pendency. The High Court decided the appeal on merits and dismissed it. The Supreme Court held that an appeal against a composite sentence of imprisonment and fine does not abate upon the appellant's death, because it is an appeal from a sentence of fine within Section 394 CrPC. The fine could be recovered from the deceased's estate. However, the Court noted the High Court failed to give his legal heirs opportunity to contest the sentence of fine, so it remitted the appeal for rehearing with proper notice to the legal representatives.
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