Validate a Sudoku

Write a method to verify if a 9-by-9 Sudoku puzzle is valid and has a possible solution. The given Sudoku could be partially filled, where it's empty cells are indicated by *. If it's a solvable puzzle, return true, else return false.

---

char puzzle_1[][]=
        {{*,*,*,*,*,*,*,9,*},
        {1,9,*,4,7,*,6,*,8},
        {*,5,2,8,1,9,4,*,7},
        {2,*,*,*,4,8,*,*,*},
        {*,*,9,*,*,*,5,*,*},
        {*,*,*,7,5,*,*,*,9},
        {9,*,7,3,6,4,1,8,*},
        {5,*,6,*,8,1,*,7,4},
        {*,8,*,*,*,*,*,*,*}};

validateSudoku(puzzle)  
            ==> true

char puzzle_2[][]=
        {{*,*,*,*,*,*,*,9,*},
        {1,9,*,4,7,*,6,*,8},
        {*,9,2,8,1,9,4,*,7},
        {2,*,*,*,4,8,*,*,*},
        {*,*,5,*,*,*,5,*,*},
        {*,*,*,7,5,*,*,*,9},
        {9,*,7,3,5,4,1,8,*},
        {5,*,6,*,8,1,*,7,4},
        {*,8,*,*,*,*,*,*,*}};

validateSudoku(puzzle) 
            ==> false