North Goa Court Clears Jharkhand Man in Ganja Case After Noting Evidence Inconsistency
In a significant ruling, a North Goa court has acquitted Suresh Chowrasiya, a resident of Jharkhand, in a case involving an alleged seizure of ganja. The court granted him the benefit of doubt, highlighting a major discrepancy between the evidence collected by police and the forensic analysis report.
Discrepancy in Seized Substance Description Leads to Acquittal
The prosecution had alleged that Chowrasiya was found in illegal possession of 1.5 kilograms of ganja at Arpora on January 9, 2018. However, the court observed a critical inconsistency in the evidence presented. According to the police witnesses and inventory proceedings, the seized substance was described as a green, leafy material.
In stark contrast, the forensic expert's report analyzed greenish brown, dry, leafy, and flowery parts of the plant, specifically referring to flowery and fruiting tops. This mismatch raised serious questions about the integrity of the evidence chain.
Court's Reasoning: How Did the Evidence Transform?
Additional Sessions Judge Artikumari N Naik, presiding at the Merces court, pointed out the puzzling transformation of the evidence. "One cannot understand how the green, leafy substance turned into flowery and fruity tops, and how it was received by the expert," the judge noted.
The court emphasized that the entire evidence from police witnesses pertained to the seizure of a green, leafy substance, while the expert's analysis was based on entirely different plant parts. This inconsistency created reasonable doubt regarding the prosecution's case.
Benefit of Doubt Granted Due to Procedural Lapses
Judge Naik concluded that the discrepancy warranted giving the accused the benefit of doubt. The ruling underscores the importance of maintaining consistency in evidence documentation and chain of custody in drug-related cases.
The acquittal of Suresh Chowrasiya serves as a reminder that procedural lapses in investigation can significantly impact legal outcomes, even in cases involving serious allegations like drug possession.
