Ludhiana Court Imposes 12-Year Sentence on Drug Peddler in NDPS Case
A local court in Ludhiana has delivered a stern verdict, sentencing a drug peddler to twelve years of rigorous imprisonment for the conscious possession of a significant quantity of intoxicants. The Special Court Judge, Harvinder Singh, also levied a fine of ₹1 lakh on the convict, with a provision for an additional year of imprisonment if the fine remains unpaid.
Case Background and Arrest Details
The case originates from January 19, 2018, when the City Jagraon police station registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against Jatinder Singh, a resident near Chungi Number 5 in Jagraon. The arrest followed the recovery of 25 intoxicant bottles, each containing 100 ml of Codeine Phosphate salt, branded as Rexcoff.
According to prosecution accounts, ASI Sukhdev Singh and his police team were conducting routine checks at T-Point Shakti Nagar, Mohalla Link Road, in Jagraon. They observed a man carrying a polythene envelope who attempted to evade them upon noticing the police presence. The individual was promptly apprehended and identified as Jatinder Singh. ASI Sukhdev Singh, serving as the Investigating Officer, informed the suspect of his suspicions regarding the envelope's contents. A search revealed the 25 bottles of intoxicants, leading to the formal booking under the NDPS Act.
Court Proceedings and Defense Rejection
Following a thorough investigation and the submission of a chargesheet, the accused pleaded false implication during the trial. His defense counsel contended that the police failed to involve independent witnesses during the search, despite having the opportunity to do so. However, the court firmly rejected this argument, emphasizing that the absence of independent witnesses does not automatically invalidate prosecution evidence.
The court upheld the credibility of official witnesses' testimonies, stating it was highly improbable for law enforcement to fabricate such a "huge quantity" of contraband merely to frame an individual. This ruling underscores the judiciary's trust in police procedures in drug-related cases.
Failure to Explain Possession and Sentencing Rationale
The court ruled that the possession of the intoxicants was conclusively proven, and the accused failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the recovery. It was noted that Jatinder Singh never filed a complaint with higher authorities regarding his alleged false implication at the time of the incident. The court remarked, "Had the accused been innocent, he would have raised a hue and cry against his false implication to higher police officers."
With no evidence of ill-will or enmity between the police and the convict, the court concluded that the recovery was genuine. The imposition of a strict sentence, including the hefty fine, was deemed necessary to reflect the gravity of the offense and serve as a deterrent in the fight against drug trafficking. This decision highlights the judiciary's commitment to stringent enforcement of NDPS laws to combat substance abuse in the region.
