In a significant verdict, the Principal District and Sessions Court in Mangaluru has handed down a five-year sentence of rigorous imprisonment along with a hefty fine in a long-pending narcotics case. The judgment, delivered by Judge Basavaraj on Saturday, brings closure to a case that dates back to 2008.
The Conviction and Sentencing Details
The convict, identified as Joseph TE, a 59-year-old resident of Belthangady taluk, was found guilty under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The court sentenced him to undergo five years of rigorous imprisonment. Additionally, a financial penalty of Rs 50,000 was imposed. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
Joseph was convicted under Section 235(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure for offences punishable under Sections 8(c) and 20(b)(ii)(B) of the NDPS Act, 1985. Public prosecutor Judith OM Crasta represented the state in the case.
The 2008 Raid and Seizure
The case originated from a police operation conducted over 15 years ago. On October 11, 2008, at around 10 am, a raid was carried out based on reliable information received by the then police inspector, Mukund Nayak of the Coastal Security Police station.
The tip-off indicated that an individual was waiting to sell packets of ganja to customers along the banks near the harbour in Nireshwalya village. Acting swiftly on this information, a team led by Inspector Nayak conducted the raid. Joseph TE was taken into custody at the scene. From his possession, the police seized a total quantity of over 2 kilograms of ganja.
Investigation, Absconding, and Final Arrest
Following the raid, a formal case was registered, and a detailed investigation was launched. The seized narcotic substance was sent to a forensic science laboratory for chemical analysis. After the lab report confirmed the nature of the substance, inspector Mukund Nayak filed the chargesheet before the court.
However, the legal process faced a major hurdle when the accused, after initially securing bail, failed to appear before the court and absconded. This led to a prolonged delay in the trial. The long arm of the law finally caught up with him when he was rearrested on February 22, 2024, and produced before the court to face trial.
During the trial proceedings, the court examined a total of five witnesses to establish the case. Furthermore, nine documents were formally marked as evidence, which included the forensic report and seizure details. The court, after evaluating all the evidence presented, found the charges against Joseph TE to be proven beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction and sentencing.
This verdict underscores the judiciary's firm stance on narcotics-related crimes, even in cases that see significant delays. The sentencing serves as a strong deterrent message under the NDPS Act.
